Pablo Escandón

The oldest of six children born to wealthy industrialist and landowner Antonio Escandón, Pablo, like his siblings, inherited a fortune and amongst his assets were two farms in the Mexican State of Morelos of which he later became the Governor between 1908-11. He served in the Mexican military and was the President’s Chief of Staff and was the translator at the historic meeting in 1909 between US President William Taft and Porfirio Diaz, the Mexican President. It was the first ever meeting between the Presidents of the two countries.

Pablo Escandón was educated at the prestigious Stonyhurst Jesuit College in Lancashire, England, and then later continued his education in France. The three Escandón brothers, Pablo, Manuel and Eustaquio were excellent horsemen and they formed a team, along with their American friend William Wright, to compete in the 1900 Paris Olympics. They played just one game, losing 8-0 to the BLO Polo Club, but hey shared the bronze medal with the Bagatelle Club of Paris as there was no third-placed match.

Pablo and his brother Manuel owned El Chateau Coubert on the outskirts of Paris. It was set in 502 hectares of land which they converted into polo and hunting grounds