Historical figures in Mexico City

The atlas holds 44 people and 112 moments here, from 1519 to 2014. The most recorded lives are Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Porfirio Díaz. Among them Writers, Political Leaders and Business Leaders, across the Cold War and the Space Age.

Notable people

1. Abebe Bikila

   in 1968

   1 moment here

   Ethiopian marathon runner and Imperial Guard officer who won Olympic marathon gold in Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964, both in world-record time.…

2. Amelia Earhart

   in 1935

   2 moments here

   American aviator and author. Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, became a leading aviation pioneer, crossed the Atlantic as a passenger in 1928,…

3. Ayrton Senna

   in 1989

   1 moment here

   Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna da Silva was a three-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion.…

4. Benito Juárez

   from 1857 to 1872

   4 moments here

   Mexican lawyer, Liberal politician, and president of Mexico from 1858 until his death. A Zapotec from Oaxaca, Juárez led the Liberal government…

5. Carlos Fuentes

   from 1970 to 2012

   2 moments here

   Carlos Fuentes Macías was a Mexican novelist, essayist, public intellectual, and diplomat. Born in Panama City to a Mexican diplomat, he spent…

6. Celia Cruz

   from 1960 to 2002

   2 moments here

   Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American singer celebrated internationally as the “Queen of Salsa.” Born in Havana, she rose to fame with Sonora Matancera,…

7. Cesária Évora

   in 2001

   1 moment here

   Cape Verdean singer celebrated internationally for morna and coladeira, known as the “Barefoot Diva.” Born and long associated with Mindelo on São…

8. Che Guevara

   in 1954

   1 moment here

   Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928–1967) was an Argentine physician, Marxist revolutionary, Cuban government official, diplomat, and guerrilla commander.…

9. Diego Maradona

   in 1986

   2 moments here

   Argentine football player and manager Diego Armando Maradona (1960–2020) was a central figure in world football.…

10. Diego Rivera

    from 1897 to 1957

    13 moments here

    Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera was a central figure in Mexican muralism. His documented movements include study in Mexico and Europe, work…

11. Dolores del Río

    from 1912 to 1924

    2 moments here

    Mexican actress Dolores del Río (María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete) was a major star of silent-era Hollywood and the Golden Age of…

12. Emiliano Zapata

    from 1906 to 1914

    3 moments here

    Mexican revolutionary and agrarian leader of the Liberation Army of the South during the Mexican Revolution.…

13. Fidel Castro

    in 1955

    1 moment here

    Cuban revolutionary and political leader who led the 26th of July Movement against Fulgencio Batista, became Cuba's prime minister in 1959, and later…

14. Frida Kahlo

    from 1907 to 1954

    10 moments here

    Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón) was born in Coyoacán and spent much of her life in Mexico City.…

15. Gabriel García Márquez

    from 1961 to 2014

    3 moments here

    Colombian novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and Nobel laureate whose life moved between Colombia, Europe, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and…

16. Harry S. Truman

    in 1947

    1 moment here

    Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953.…

17. Helen Keller

    in 1953

    1 moment here

    Helen Adams Keller was an American deafblind author, lecturer, disability-rights advocate, and political activist.…

18. Hernán Cortés

    from 1519 to 1526

    6 moments here

    Spanish conquistador, commander, explorer, governor, and writer whose 1519–1521 campaign against the Aztec Empire helped establish Spanish rule in…

19. Jack Brabham

    in 1970

    1 moment here

    Australian racing driver, engineer, team owner and three-time Formula One World Champion. Brabham began in Australian speedcar racing, worked as a…

20. Jacques Derrida

    in 2002

    1 moment here

    French philosopher, born Jackie Élie Derrida, associated with deconstruction. His career moved from Algeria and Paris to recurrent teaching and…

21. Jimmy Carter

    in 1979

    1 moment here

    James Earl Carter Jr. was an American naval officer, Georgia state senator and governor, the 39th president of the United States, and a…

22. Joan Fontaine

    in 1946

    1 moment here

    British-American actress Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland, professionally Joan Fontaine, was an Academy Award-winning performer known especially for…

23. John F. Kennedy

    in 1962

    1 moment here

    John Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American naval officer, journalist, congressman, senator, and the 35th president of the United States.…

24. Jorge Luis Borges

    from 1973 to 1981

    2 moments here

    Argentine writer, poet, essayist, translator, lecturer, librarian, and critic. Borges was born in Buenos Aires, lived in Switzerland and Spain during…

Moments

1. 1519 Entry into Tenochtitlan Hernán Cortés
2. 1520 Return to Tenochtitlan during uprising Hernán Cortés
3. 1521 Fall of Tenochtitlan Hernán Cortés
4. 1522 Residence at Coyoacán Hernán Cortés
5. 1524 Departure for Honduras Hernán Cortés
6. 1526 Return to Mexico City Hernán Cortés
7. 1664 Sent to live in Mexico City Juana Inés de la Cruz
8. 1667 Entry into the Carmelite Convent of San José Juana Inés de la Cruz
9. 1669 Cloistered life at the Convent of Santa Paula Juana Inés de la Cruz
10. 1695 Death in Mexico City Juana Inés de la Cruz
11. 1847 Mexican campaign at Mexico City Ulysses S. Grant
12. 1857 Imprisonment in the capital Benito Juárez
13. 1861 Arrival in Mexico City as deputy Porfirio Díaz
14. 1863 Departure from Mexico City during French advance Benito Juárez
15. 1867 Siege of Mexico City Porfirio Díaz
16. 1867 Triumphal reentry into Mexico City Benito Juárez
17. 1872 Death in Mexico City Benito Juárez
18. 1872 Settlement with Lerdo Porfirio Díaz
19. 1875 Residence on Calle Moneda José Martí
20. 1876 Triumphal entry into Mexico City Porfirio Díaz
21. 1877 Return from Guadalajara campaign Porfirio Díaz
22. 1897 Begins art classes at the National School of Fine Arts Diego Rivera
23. 1906 Work at Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo Emiliano Zapata
24. 1907 Birth in Coyoacán Frida Kahlo
25. 1910 Mexican independence centennial delegation Rubén Darío
26. 1910 Inauguration of Juárez monument Porfirio Díaz
27. 1910 Inauguration of Monument to Independence Porfirio Díaz
28. 1910 Independence centennial proclamation Porfirio Díaz
29. 1911 Honeymoon visit to Mexico City Pancho Villa
30. 1911 Departure from Mexico City after resignation Porfirio Díaz
31. 1912 Family reunited in Mexico City Dolores del Río
32. 1912 Imprisonment in Mexico City Pancho Villa
33. 1912 Transfer to Santiago Tlatelolco Prison Pancho Villa
34. 1912 Escape from Santiago Tlatelolco Pancho Villa
35. 1914 Childhood at his grandfather's house Octavio Paz
36. 1914 Birth in Mexico City Octavio Paz
37. 1914 Entry into Mexico City and National Palace appearance Emiliano Zapata
38. 1914 Pact of Xochimilco with Pancho Villa Emiliano Zapata
39. 1914 Alliance meeting with Emiliano Zapata Pancho Villa
40. 1914 Triumphal entry into Mexico City Pancho Villa
41. 1921 Returns to Mexico City Diego Rivera
42. 1922 Paints Creation at the National Preparatory School Diego Rivera
43. 1922 National Preparatory School student Frida Kahlo
44. 1923 Begins Secretariat of Public Education murals Diego Rivera
45. 1924 Settlement in Mexico City Dolores del Río
46. 1925 Bus and streetcar collision Frida Kahlo
47. 1928 Resumes work at the Secretariat of Public Education Diego Rivera
48. 1929 Begins Palacio Nacional murals Diego Rivera
49. 1929 National Preparatory School Octavio Paz
50. 1929 Visit to Mexico City Paramahansa Yogananda

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