Manuel Ávila Camacho
Manuel Ávila Camacho | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1940 | |
| 52nd President of Mexico | |
| In office 1 December 1940 – 30 November 1946 | |
| Preceded by | Lázaro Cárdenas |
| Succeeded by | Miguel Alemán Valdés |
| Secretary of National Defense of Mexico | |
| In office 18 October 1936 – 31 January 1939 | |
| President | Lázaro Cárdenas |
| Preceded by | Andrés Figueroa |
| Succeeded by | Jesús Agustín Castro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1897 Teziutlán, Puebla, Mexico |
| Died | 13 October 1955 (aged 58) Huixquilucan, State of Mexico, Mexico |
| Resting place | Panteón Francés |
| Political party | Institutional Revolutionary Party |
| Spouse | Soledad Orozco |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Mexico |
| Branch/service | Mexican Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1939 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
Manuel Ávila Camacho (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈnwel ˈaβila kaˈmatʃo]; 24 April 1897 – 13 October 1955) was a Mexican politician and military leader who served as the president of Mexico from 1940 to 1946. Despite participating in the Mexican Revolution and achieving a high rank, he came to the presidency of Mexico because of his direct connection to General Lázaro Cárdenas and served him as the Chief of his General Staff during the Mexican Revolution and afterwards. He was called affectionately by Mexicans "The Gentleman President" ("El Presidente Caballero"). As president, he pursued "national policies of unity, adjustment, and moderation." His administration completed the transition from military to civilian leadership, ended confrontational anticlericalism, reversed the push for socialist education, and restored a working relationship with the US during World War II.