Pedro Lascurain
Pedro José Domingo de la Calzada Manuel María Lascuráin Paredes (Rancho La Romita, Mexico City, May 12, 1856 – July 21, 1952) was a Mexican lawyer and politician. He served as president of Mexico for 45 minutes on February 19, 1913, after Francisco I. Madero's forced resignation signature.
Early years and career
He was born in Rancho la Romita (today Colonia Roma), Mexico City, on May 12, 1856, from a family of Basque origin through the maternal line, established in Mexico at the beginning of the century XIX. He was the grandson of General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga who was interim president of Mexico for a brief period in 1846. His father was a prosperous merchant from Veracruz who married Ángela Paredes, the general's daughter, in Mexico City.
His formation was like the well-to-do classes of his time, primarily Catholic. He began his law studies at the Conciliar Seminary, concluding them later at the National School of Jurisprudence, obtaining a law degree in 1880.
He was a member of the City Council of Mexico City, director of the Escuela Libre de Derecho and Secretary of Foreign Relations on two occasions during the government of Francisco I. Madero; from April 10 to December 4, 1912, and from January 15 to February 18, 1913.
Governing period
On February 19, 1913, after Madero and Pino Suárez submitted their resignations after pressure from Victoriano Huerta, he temporarily held the position of president of Mexico, as established in the Constitution of 1857: that the Minister of Relations Foreign Affairs will occupy the presidency of the Republic when the president is absent. His mandate lasted only forty-five minutes, from 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. that same day.
On the other hand, despite the fact that he advised President Francisco I. Madero to leave office to save his life, he was assassinated along with Vice President José María Pino Suárez by General Victoriano Huerta. After being arrested in the National Palace, they sent their resignations to Congress through Lascuráin.After handing in his resignation, he refused to witness the execution of the sentence, arguing that his religion did not allow him to do so.
His only acts of government were to take a protest and appoint Victoriano Huerta Secretary of the Interior, to later present his resignation and for him to become president by constitutional mandate.
Other political offices
His first job was as secretary of minutes in the City of Mexico; He also worked in President Porfirio Díaz's Ministry of Foreign Affairs He was rector of the Escuela Libre de Derecho, the superior bar association of Mexico City, for 16 years, and published extensively on civil and commercial law. He served as mayor of Mexico City before entering the cabinet of President Madero on April 10, 1913. He was chosen to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the presidency of Francisco I. Madero.
After occupying these positions, he retired to the private practice of his profession. He passed away in Mexico on July 21, 1952.