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Birth
Pancho Villa was born June 5, 1878. He was born in Durango, Mexico. He grew up working on the farm with his parents. -
Criminal
In the late 1890’s he worked as a miner in Chihuahua. During that time he added some serious crimes to his record, including robbing banks and taking thing from wealthy families. -
Father passed away
Then, in 1893 Agustín Arango died (Pancho’s Father). When his father died he knew he had to step in and be the man in the house. He became the head of the household. -
Man of the household
Pancho knew he had to be the man in the household. In 1894 Pancho shot a man who was harassing his sister. He left the house and spent six years running in the mountains. While in the mountains he joined a group of fugitives and became a bandit. While he was on the run he changed his name so he didn’t get caught by the authorities. -
Villa's Skills
In 1910 Pancho joined Francisco Madero's uprising against Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz. Villa's skills as at reading, writing, fighting and his knowledge of the land would help him with many things. -
Villa goes to prison
General Victoriano Huerta and Villa were trying to protect Madero's newfound authority. Then Huerta accused Villa of stealing his horse. Villa's execution was ordered in 1912. Although Madero was able to grant Villa a reprieve shortly before his execution, he still had to go to prison in June of 1912. -
Hollywood Film Company
In 1913 he signed a contract with Hollywood’s mutual film company. He did this so he could have many of his battles filmed. Even though he changed his name so that the attention wouldn’t be drawn to him, he loved being photographed. -
Kidnapping
Pancho kidnapped and killed 18 Americans in 1916. Pancho led several rebels in a raid of Columbus, New Mexico, Later that year he killed 19 more people. -
Retirement
De la Huerta became the president of Mexico. De la Huerta negotiated with him for his withdrawal from the battlefield. Villa retired as a revolutionary in 1920. -
Death
Pancho passed away. On July 20, 1923 in Parral, Mexico. He was assassinated.
