Gaspar Jesús Melchor Flores Magón (6 January 1871 – 7 December 1930) was a
Mexican politician, journalist, and jurist. The more moderate brother of
Ricardo and
Enrique Flores Magón, he served in the cabinet of
Francisco I. Madero.
Biography
Jesús Flores Magón was born in
San Jerónimo Tecóatl in the state of
Oaxaca
Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...
in 1871,
[
]
to Margarita Magón and Teodoro Flores, a
Nahua who had fought in
Benito Juárez's Liberal Army.
At an early age the family relocated to
Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
.
He graduated in law in 1897 and, in conjunction with his brother Ricardo, founded the newspaper ''
Regeneración,'' the first edition of which appeared on 7 August 1900. As editor of the paper, he was jailed on several occasions for criticising the judicial system. He was later expelled from the country for his anti-
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915) was a General (Mexico), Mexican general and politician who was the dictator of Mexico from 1876 until Mexican Revolution, his overthrow in 1911 seizing power in a Plan ...
writings; he fled to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
where his political differences with his brothers – also exiled, and now espousing
anarchist beliefs – deepened.
He returned to Mexico in 1910 following the overthrow of Porfirio Díaz in the early days of the
Mexican Revolution.
In 1911, alongside
Antonio Irineo Villarreal, he began publishing a moderate version of the newspaper ''Regeneración'' in Mexico City, while his brothers – still in their U.S. exile – published a more radical broadsheet under the same title in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
.
President Francisco I. Madero appointed him under-secretary for justice in his cabinet. He also served as
secretary of the interior from February to November 1912 and, subsequently, as secretary for development. Following
Victoriano Huerta's
coup d'état in February 1913, he again went into exile.
Upon returning, he resumed his law practice.
During the tumultuous years that followed, he remained in Mexico City. When
Venustiano Carranza assumed the presidency, he chose to leave the country because he had been the running mate of presidential candidate Manuel Calero y Sierra; he returned to Mexico following Carranza's assassination.
See also
*
Magonism
*''
Regeneración''
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flores Magon, Jesus
Mexican journalists
Mexican male journalists
1871 births
1930 deaths
Politicians from Oaxaca
Mexican revolutionaries
Magonists
Secretaries of the interior of Mexico