Ángel García Peña
Ángel García Peña (1856–1928) was a Mexican general who fought for the Maderistas during the Mexican Revolution, best known for his role in the Ten Tragic Days.
He was born in Chihuahua City and joined the army as a young man, entering the Heroic Military Academy in 1872. He trained as an artillery officer and later worked on staff duties and scientific missions, including directing the Exploratory Geographical Commission from 1902 to 1912.
García Peña fought in the Yaqui campaigns from 1887 to 1901, earning recognition for his service. By 1911 he had become a brigadier general. In 1912 he helped organize an auxiliary irregular battalion in Jalapa and Veracruz, and on March 5, 1912 he was named Secretary of War and Navy by President Francisco I. Madero. That year the King of Spain awarded him the Grand Cross of Military Merit, and on September 11, 1912 he was promoted to general of division.
During the Ten Tragic Days in February 1913, García Peña tried to drive rebels from the National Palace but was wounded in the arm. After Victoriano Huerta seized power, his active military career ended in March 1913. He briefly returned in 1914 to aid against the U.S. occupation of Veracruz, commanding a division, but was defeated and retired again in July 1914.
He later served again in the army from 1916 to 1920 under Venustiano Carranza before retiring for good. García Peña died in Mexico City on November 23, 1928.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:29 (CET).