VIDAURRI, ve-thowere, Santiago, Mexi can soldier: b. Nuevo Leon, Mexico, about 1803; d. City of Mexico, 8 July 1867. He came of a wealthy family of Indian extraction, was well educated, admitted to the bar in 1S26 and entered political life. He was engaged in several civil wars, rose to the rank of colonel and in 1852 was elected governor of Nuevo Leon. He assisted in the overthrow of Santa Anna in 1854-55, though refusing to act in conjunction with Alvarez, and was an unsuc cessful candidate against the latter for the Presi dency in 1855. He assumed a species of dic tatorship over the states of northern Mexico, forcibly annexed Coahuila and was long sus pected of a design to establish a separate re public. He withheld recognition of Comonfort as successor of Alvarez until 1856, but was then forced to grant it in order to retain his con trol of the states Nuevo Leon and Coahuila. He at first participated in resistance to the French intervention in 1862-64; later became an crfficer in the Cabinet of Maximilian. He re signed in 1867, but after the fall of the City of Mexico he was captured arid shot as a traitor.
VIDOCQ, Eugene Francois, French adventurer and detective. b. Arras, France, 23 July 1775; d. 10 May 1h17. He was
apprenticed to his father, a baker, at 13, and after constant pilfering robbed the shop of 2,000 francs and fled to Ostend. He soon lost his money and after living a life of vagabond age entered the French arrny, fronl which he deserted to the Austrians, but later returned to the Frendi army. His career as a soldier was one of miserable intrigue and disgraceful ad venture and he was finally implicated in a forgery for which he was sentenced to eight years' imprisoninent. He escaped and after further discreditable escapades settled in Paris, where he gained employment on the secret po lice force. His wide knowledge of the criminal classes enabled him to render efficient service and in 1812 he was made chief of the brigade de sureti. His activity in the service cleared Paris of great numbers of the criminals with which it was infested, but in 1827 he was re moved from office. His subsequent career was one of obscurity and failure, though he ap parently endeavored to live an honest life and he died in wretched poverty. His 'Memoires) (1&28) are not regarded as authentic.