Francisco R. Almada (October 4, 1896, Chínipas, Chihuahua—June 3, 1989, Chihuahua, Chihuahua) was a Mexican teacher, investigator, historian and politician. He served as governor of the state of Chihuahua on two occasions.
Almada was born in the village of Chínipas, today named Chínipas de Almada in his honor. There he began his studies. Thereafter he worked as an assistant in the primary school he had attended. It was then he decided to enter the teaching profession. His school closed, and he accepted a position as a rural teacher in Masiaca, Sonora. However, he was soon (at age 20) named director of the school in Chínipas, which was reopened upon his acceptance. Later in his career he was secretary of the Commission of Education and chief of the Department of Public Education of the state of Chihuahua.
At a young age he joined in the antireelectionist movement in opposition to President Porfirio Díaz. Soon he became involved in electoral politics, leading to three terms as president of the municipality of Chínipas, all between 1918 and 1920. Three times he was deputy to the state legislature (1922, 1924 and 1928–30). Thereafter he served two terms in the federal Chamber of Deputies (1928–30 and, after reelection, 1930–32). He was a member of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI).
On July 3, 1929 he was named interim governor of the state by the legislature of Chihuahua, temporarily replacing Governor Luis L. León until the latter returned to office on November 9, 1929. León again asked for leave on December 6, and Almada again occupied the office.
On June 25, 1930, a coup led by deputies Manuel Jesús Estrada and Manuel Prieto overthrew the governor in a two-hour gun battle that killed one deputy and the chief of police. A company of federal troops then surrounded the governmental palace and restored Almada. Thereupon the legislature impeached him, charging him with partiality in the on-going gubernatorial election. The legislature installed Estrada as governor, but Estrada was not recognized by the national government of Pascual Ortiz Rubio. The federal government again reinstated Almada, on June 27.