Leader of the Mexican Revolution in the North and of the only invasion of U.S. territory in the twentieth century. The"Centaur of the North," Villa (1878-1923) was the leader of the Mexican Revolution in the North, and led the only invasion of U.S. territory in the twentieth century when his column attacked and burned Columbus New Mexico on March 9, 1916, killing eighteen civilians. Coming shortly after his forces had killed fifteen mining engineers in Chihuahua in retaliation for the U.S. occupation of Veracruz in 1914, the United States sent a punitive expedition headed by General Pershing to track Villa down. World War I caused the U.S. to pull out the troops in 1917. Villa was assassinated near his ranch in 1923, likely by government killers, but possibly in an act of personal revenge.