Pedro Lascuráin was a lawyer and diplomat who served as the president of Mexico for 45 minutes on 19 February 1913. His tenure represented the shortest presidency in global history, acting as a tactical mechanism to facilitate a coup d'état. He was best known for enabling the transfer of power to Victoriano Huerta through a veneer of constitutional legality.
The shortest presidency in global history lasted less than an hour when Pedro Lascuráin assumed the executive office in Mexico on 19 February 1913. His brief tenure served as a tactical mechanism to facilitate a coup d'état during the period known as the Ten Tragic Days, allowing Victoriano Huerta to ascend to power through a veneer of constitutional legality.
Background and Legal Career
Born on 8 May 1856 in Mexico City, Lascuráin emerged from a wealthy family of Basque descent. He pursued legal studies at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria and later at the National School of Jurisprudence, earning his degree in 1880. Before entering federal politics, he established himself as a prominent lawyer in Mexico City and ventured into real estate development. He played a significant role in the founding of Colonia Roma through his involvement with the Compañía Fraccionadora de la Calzada de Chapultepec.
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Lascuráin entered public service in 1902 as a municipal syndic and eventually served as mayor of Mexico City in 1910. He aligned himself with Francisco I. Madero, who later appointed him as secretary of foreign affairs. In this capacity, he navigated the complex diplomatic demands of Henry Lane Wilson, the United States ambassador. His service as foreign minister occurred across two separate terms, flanking his second period as the capital's mayor.
The Forty-Five Minute Presidency
During the 1913 uprising against Madero, military forces captured the president and vice president. To ensure the transition to a military-led government appeared lawful under the 1857 Constitution, the conspirators forced Lascuráin into the presidency. He held the office only long enough to appoint Huerta as his interior secretary, thereby moving Huerta to the top of the line of succession. Lascuráin resigned immediately, and Congress confirmed Huerta as his successor.
Later Years
Following his resignation, Lascuráin withdrew from active politics and refused a cabinet position offered by the new administration. He resumed his private practice and focused on academic leadership, directing the Escuela Libre de Derecho for sixteen years. He continued to write extensively on civil and commercial law until his death in Mexico City on 21 July 1952, at the age of 96.
Fast facts
- Born: 8 May 1856, Mexico City
- Died: 21 July 1952, Mexico City
- Presidency: 19 February 1913
- Duration of term: Less than one hour
- Education: National School of Jurisprudence
- Spouse: María Enriqueta Flores Manzanera
- Primary occupations: Lawyer, diplomat, politician
Questions readers ask
Why was Pedro Lascuráin president for such a short time?
He served as a constitutional placeholder to enable the transfer of power to Victoriano Huerta following the coup against Francisco I. Madero.
What did Lascuráin do after his presidency?
He retired from politics, practiced law, and served as the director of the Escuela Libre de Derecho for sixteen years.
