Obregón, Álvaro, 1880-1928

Álvaro Obregón (b. Feb. 19, 1880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico–d. July 17, 1928, Mexico City, Mexico) was a Mexican general and later President of Mexico. As a child he worked on his family farm and later became a successful chickpea farmer and inventor.

In 1912, Obregón joined the Fourth Irregular Battalion of Sonora, organized under the command of General Sanginés to oppose Pascual Orozco's revolt and rose up the ranks; by 1913 the entire area of Northwestern Mexico under Obregón's command. Obregón supported Sonora's decision to follow Governor of Coahuila Venustiano Carranza as leader of a revolution against the Huerta regime. Carranza appointed Obregón commander of the revolutionary forces in northwestern Mexico and in 1915 appointed him as his minister of war. In 1920, Obregón lead a revolt against Carranza, in which Carranza was assassinated.

In 1920 Obregón was elected President and it was the first stable presidency since the Mexican Revolution. As president, he oversaw educational and land reforms and enacted labor laws. He stepped down in 1924 after successfully crushing a rebellion. In 1928 he was elected for a second term but was assassinated by José de León Toral.