Don Benito Juarez.was born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oax., on March 21, 1806. His parents were peasants who died before his fourth birthday. He worked in the corn fields and as a shepherd until the age of 12, then on December 17, 1818, he moved to the city of Oaxaca hoping to gain better education. At the time he was illiterate and could speak no Spanish, only Zapotec.
In the city, he started working as a domestic. A lay Franciscan named Antonio Salanueva was impressed with young Benito's intelligence and thirst for learning, and helped arrange for him to be accepted at the city seminary. He graduated from the seminary in 1827, but then decided to pursue his education in law.
Juárez became a lawyer in 1834 and a judge in 1842. He was governor of the state of Oaxaca from 1847 to 1853, at which time he was sent into exile because of his objections to the corruption of Antonio López de Santa Anna. He spent his exile in New Orleans, Louisiana working in a cigar factory.
Juarez returned to Mexico to join the rebellion against Santa Anna in 1855, and became first Justice Minister in the victorious government, before being named Chief Justice of the Mexican Supreme Court in 1857. He finally became President of the Republic when Ignacio Comonfort resigned under duress in 1858.
Juarez would lead the government to victory during the War of the Reform against the Conservatives and would lead the victorious resistance to the Conservative/French Empire of the 1860s.
France invaded Mexico in 1862, with plans by Napoleon III to establish a puppet regime there. After fierce fighting, Juárez and his elected government were forced to retreat to the northern part of the country. Juárez led Mexican opposition to the French invasion and imposition of puppet emperor Maximilian of Habsburg. Maximilian offered Juárez amnesty, and later the post of prime minister, but Juárez refused to accept monarchy or a government imposed by foreigners. In 1867 the last of the French troops and allies of Maximilian were defeated and driven from the land. That same year Juárez was reelected president.
In 1867, he was once again in control in Mexico City and remained President until his death in 1872, of an heart attack.
Juárez's famous quotation continues to be well-remembered in Mexico: "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz", meaning "Respect for the rights of others is peace." It is inscribed on the State Flag of Oaxaca.