Bio

Jaime Ramón Mercader del Río Hernández, better known as Ramón Mercader, was a Spanish communist and Soviet agent. He was born in Catalonia, Spain, to Pau Mercader Marina and Caridad Mercader. After his parents separated, Mercader spent part of his early life in France with his mother. As a young man, he became involved in communist politics and was arrested in the mid-1930s for political activity. He was released in 1936 after the Popular Front came to power in Spain.

During the Spanish Civil War, Mercader was recruited by Soviet intelligence. He later received training for secret operations and became involved in the Soviet plan to assassinate Leon Trotsky.

Trotsky was a former leader of the Russian Revolution and a major enemy of Joseph Stalin. After being forced into exile, Trotsky settled in Coyoacán, Mexico City, where he continued to criticize Stalin.

Before the murder, Mercader used fake identities, including Jacques Mornard and Frank Jacson, to get close to Trotsky’s supporters. Through Sylvia Ageloff, an American Trotskyist, he gained access to Trotsky’s home and eventually met him in private.

Murder Story

On August 20, 1940, Ramón Mercader went to Leon Trotsky’s home in Coyoacán, Mexico City. He used the false names Frank Jacson and Jacques Mornard and had gained access to Trotsky by pretending to be a supporter. Mercader met Trotsky privately and brought a written article for him to read. While Trotsky was reviewing it, Mercader attacked him with an ice axe, striking him in the head.

Trotsky survived the first blow and struggled with Mercader. His guards rushed in and captured Mercader. Trotsky was taken to a hospital, but he died the next day, August 21, 1940.

Mercader was arrested immediately after the attack. He refused to reveal his real identity and gave false explanations to Mexican authorities. He was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

For years, his true identity was unclear. Later evidence confirmed that he was Ramón Mercader, a Spanish communist and Soviet agent involved in the plan to kill Trotsky.

Mercader was released from prison on May 6, 1960. After his release, he lived in Cuba and the Soviet Union. He died in Havana, Cuba, on October 18, 1978.