JUAREZ, BENITO, late president of the Mexican republic, was b. at Ixtian, of Indian parents, about the year 1807. Notwithstanding disadvantages of birth, he succeeded in establishing a reputation as an advocate, became governor of his native state, Oaxaca. (1848-52), and an active member of the liberal party. Exiled during the dictatorship of Santa Anna, he returned when the republic was restored, was elected to the new con gress (1856), and appointed president of the supreme court in 1857, and consequently, in case of vacancy by death or default, president ad interim of the republic.
On the overthrow of the liberal president, Comonfort, by Zuloaga and the clerical party (Jan., 1858), Juarez refused to recognize the usurper, and finally established him self at Vera Cruz, by holding which he secured the receipt of the customs dues—in other • words, of the larger half of the entire state revenue. Here he set up a provisional gov ernment, styling himself constitutional president, and issuing decrees for the confiscation of the property of the church, the institution of civil marriage, etc., in accordance with the reforms carried by Comonfort in 1857. Meanwhile, Miramon, who had superseded Zuloaga (Jan., 1859), prepared to take the field against his rival. His movements were, however. delayed by a counter-rising of Juarists in Mexico; and before he again advanced, Juarez had secured recognition from the United States by conceding the pro tectorate (refused to them by 3Iiramon) over the proposed transit routes in the n. and in the isthmus of Tehuantepec. Early in 1860 Miramon besieged Vera Cruz, but lijs army suffered from want of supplies, his transports were intercepted by the United Staten ship-of-war Saratoga, and after a few weeks he was compelled to retire with loss. Juarez now assumed the offensive. At San Miguelitti Miramon was totally defeated by Ortega, and fled to Europe. His rival entered Mexico (Jan., 1861), caused himself in June to be formally elected president for four years, and proceeded to execute the decrees. against the with great severity. But the finances of Mexico were now in a Mate of disc 'der, which even the wholesale confiscation of church lands could not remedy. In July, 1861; the government decreed suspension of payment for two years of the indemnities due to England and France, and formally secured by the hypothecation of the customs dues. This act, coming at the end of a long series of outrages (mainly thee work of Mirarnon 'and his faction), led to the intervention of the allied powers, and the occupation of Vera Cruz by England, France, and Spain. But it soon appeared that the French aimed at more than a simple redress of grievances. The appearance of
the clerical chiefs Miramon and Almonte in their camp, and the extravagant demands of M. de Soligny, rendered any arrangement impossible. The failure of the tions at Soledad (Feb.,rad (Feb. 1862) was followed by -the conference of Orizaba (April 9), in which England and Spain formally withdrew. France now threw off the mask, and. Juarez appealed to the country, proclaiming a guerrilla war, and concluding a loan of 25,000,000 dollars with the American minister, Corwyn. The victory of faragoza at Puebla (May 5, 1862) raised the hopes of the Mexicans; but fresh troops arrived from France. Puebla fell (May 18, 1863), after a gallant resistance. Mexico and San Luis. de Potosi followed, and in 1864 the republican government was removed to Monterey. The arrival of Maximilian in May was succeeded by further losses from battle and desertion. In Aug. Juarez sent his family to New Orleans, but " le petit Indien " him self still held on, although forced back on Chihuahua, and thence a year after across the frontier. His four years of office had also expired, and Maximilian availed himself of these events to issue the fatal decree of Oct., 1865, in which he declared the republic extinct de jure et de facto, and sentenced to death all Juarist leaders taken in arms_ Juarez proclaimed in answer that he held office until the expulsion of the invaders ren dered a fresh election practicable. By this time the complete pacification of the southern states enabled the Washington cabinet (which had persistently recognized Juarez) to interfere effectually On his behalf. Under diplomatic pressure (1866) Napoleon with drew his troops, and the positions evacuated by the French were immediately occupied by the republicans. The unhappy Maximilian made a final stand in Queretaro, but was betrayed by Lopez, and shot (June 19, 1867) by order of court-martial—an ungenerous but not unjustifiable act Of reprisal which Juarez, it is said, would have been unable to prevent. Mexico and Vera Cruz were reoccupied shortly after, and the triumph of the liberals was consummated by the re-election of Juarez to the presidency (Oct., 1867), after a ten years' struggle, in which he had successfully maintained the constitution of 1857, under which he took office, against domestic treason and foreign intervention. He was re-elected president in Oct., 1871, and held office till he died, June 18, 1872. Juarez, as governor of Oaxaca, was universally esteemed, and his honesty as a reformer has been attested by the British charge d'affaires (Mr. Matthew's report, 1861), and by all the-. leading men in the United States.