Benito Juárez was Mexico’s only indigenous president and served for five terms from 1858 to 1872. He helped defend Mexico from French occupation and overthrew the Empire led by Maximilian of Habsburg. Juárez was a lawyer, judge, and governor of Oaxaca before becoming president. He led the Liberal forces to victory in a civil war and continued to reform and modernize the country. The French army invaded Mexico in 1861, but they withdrew in 1866, and Maximilian was executed the following year. Juárez was reelected twice after the occupation and died of a heart attack in 1872. He is remembered as an inspirational leader and reformer.
Benito Juárez served as president of Mexico for five consecutive terms, from 1858 to 1872. He is Mexico’s only full-blooded indigenous president in history and is remembered as a great leader. Benito Juárez helped defend Mexico from French occupation starting in 1862, eventually overthrowing the Empire led by Maximilian of Habsburg and restoring the Republic.
Benito Juárez was born on March 21, 1806 in San Pablo Guelatao, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He became a lawyer at age 29 and a judge seven years later, and served as governor of Oaxaca from 1847 to 1853. When military dictator Santa Anna regained the Mexican presidency in 1853 after a period of exile, Juárez, a liberal, went in exile in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked in a cigar factory. Juárez and other Mexican liberals hatched a plan to remove Santa Anna from office in 1854, and Santa Anna resigned the following year. Juárez returned to Mexico, where liberals formed a provisional government and began introducing political and social reforms.
In December 1857, Conservatives led a revolt against the Liberal government and civil war ensued. Benito Juárez was arrested, but later led the Liberal forces to victory. As president, first elected in 1858, Juárez continued to reform and modernize the country. In late 1861, after Juárez suspended interest payments on foreign loans due to Mexico’s poor economy, the French army under Napoleon III invaded. The first victory of Mexican forces against the invaders is commemorated on its anniversary by the Mexican national holiday Cinco de Mayo.
Maximilian I, an Austrian, was installed as Emperor of Mexico in 1864. The United States did not recognize his sovereignty and supported Mexico during the French occupation. French troops withdrew at the end of 1866 and Maximilian was executed the following year.
Benito Juárez was reelected twice after the occupation and continued to serve as president until his death of a heart attack on July 18, 1872. Juárez is remembered as an inspirational leader and reformer, and is commemorated with a national holiday on his birthday in Mexico , as well as with monuments throughout Mexico, the United States, and Guatemala.
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