Francisco Indalecio Madero (1873-1913) was a Mexican political leader who led the rebellion which overthrew Porfirio Díaz and made possible the later far-reaching social revolution.

Francisco Madero was born in Parras, Coahuila, on Oct. 30, 1873, the son of a wealthy landowning and industrialist family. After studying in the United States and France, he settled on a farm in San Pedro de las Colonias, where he introduced modern farming techniques and improved the educational, housing, and health facilities of his workers. A devotee of homeopathy and spiritism, Madero was influenced by the latter system of beliefs to enter politics at first locally and then nationally as the means of serving his fellowmen. Beginning in 1905, he backed several local candidates and supported journalists opposing the Díaz regime.

The Creelman interview, in which President Díaz promised free elections, encouraged Madero to write his book Presidential Succession...