José González Salas

José González Salas (1862-1912) was a Mexican general who participated in the Mexican Revolution who was Secretary of War and Navy of Mexico twice throughout his career before committing suicide after the First Battle of Rellano.

Early years He was born in Chihuahua City on March 19, 1862, as the son of José González Parra and Luz Salas de González. He married Herminia Trillo and had five children: Luz, Herminia, Salvador, José and Amelia.

He studied at the Heroic Military Academy from January 9, 1881, to January 10, 1884, and graduated as a lieutenant of the staff of engineers. He immediately began to work in said school as a teacher; He reached the rank of lieutenant colonel of the facultative staff of engineers on July 15, 1898.

That same month he received the rank of brigadier general. On March 4, 1912, he resigned from the aforementioned secretariat and asked Madero to remain in charge of the troops that would fight the Orozquistas, unleashed at the beginning of the month.

The next day he was authorized to carry out this task and he was entrusted with the command of the forces that operated in Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango and Zacatecas so that he would fight the insurgents.

He arranged for the troops under his command to be concentrated in Torreón, and on the 18th he left Mexico City. At Coahuila City, he organized what would later become the Northern Division, made up of approximately 2,150 men divided into one infantry and two cavalry bridges.

He was defeated by the Orozquistas at the First Battle of Rellano on March 24, 1912, and, feeling responsible for the failure, committed suicide in a railroad car in Corralitos the next day. His death shocked both President Madero and General Victoriano Huerta, who avenged his death by later defeating Orozco at the Second Battle of Rellano.