Pancho Villa biography Born on June 5, 1878, in San Juan del
Rio, Durango, Mexico, Pancho Villa started off as a bandit who
was later inspired by reformer Francisco Modero, helping him to
win the Mexican Revolution. After a coup by Victoriano Huerta,
Villa formed his own army to oppose the dictator, with more
battles to follow as Mexican leadership remained in a state of
flux. He was assassinated on July 20, 1923, in Parral, Mexico.
Birth of a Bandit Born Doroteo Arango on June 5, 1878, in San
Juan del Rio, Durango, Pancho Villa spent much of his youth
helping out on his parents' farm. After his father's death, he
became head of the household and shot a man who was harassing
one of his sisters. He fled, but was caught and imprisoned.
After escaping once again, he became a bandit. Mexican
Revolutionary Leader While living as a fugitive, Pancho Villa
joined Francisco Madero's successful uprising against Mexican
dictator Porfirio Díaz, and, due to his skills as a fighter and
leader, Villa was made a colonel. Whe