Juárez was born to a poor Zapotec family in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca state, and was orphaned when he was three. He and his two sisters lived first with their grandparents and then with an uncle, until he was 12, when he went to live with his sister, a servant in Oaxaca city, and was taken under the wing of her employer (whose daughter he later married), who had him educated and fostered by an elderly lay brother, Don Antonio Salanueva.

He entered a Franciscan seminary, but turned to the law, and graduated in 1834. In 1831 he became a city council member in Oaxaca, 1841 a judge, then a federal deputy, then governor of Oaxaca state 1847-52. After Santa Anna returned to power in 1853 Juárez was expelled with other liberal intellectuals, and went into exile in the USA, where he conspired to overthrow the dictator.

He served as minister of justice when Santa Anna was overthrown in 1854, but in 1856 was again governor of Oaxaca. After the coup of 1857 he was arrested and jailed, narrowly escaping the firing squad during the Reform War of 1858-61. He was elected president of Mexico after the war, in 1861, but overthrown by the French in 1867 in favor of their puppet, Maximilian. When Maximilian was deposed in 1867 Juárez was again elected president and died in office.

References

Dever, Maria, and Dever, Aileen. Relative Origins: Famous Foster and Adopted People. (Portland: National Book Company, 1992)
Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1993-97
Bains, Rae. Benito Juárez: Hero of Modern Mexico. (Mahwah: Troll Association, 1993)
Instituto Nacional de Solidaridad. Microbiografías: Personajes en la Historia de México. (Mexico City: Instituto Nacional de Solidaridad, 1993)
"Biography of Benito Juárez." [Includes portrait]. Available at: http://explora.presidencia.gob.mx/pages_kids/history/biographies/biojuarez_kids.html
"Biografía de Benito Juárez." Available at: http://www.ticnet.com.mx/benito/benito1.htm
Tuck, Jim. "Mexico's Lincoln: The Ecstasy and Agony of Benito Juárez (1806-1872)." Available at: http://mexconnect.com/mex_/history/jtuck/jtbenitojuarez.html
De Varona, Frank. Benito Juárez, President of Mexico. (Brookfield: Millbrook Press, 1993) (Hispanic Heritage)

Indexes

Native American and Alaskan Native, Inuit
Mexico
USA
19th Century
Rulers, Nobles, Chiefs, Presidents, Prime Ministers
Exile or Persecution (religious, Political or Social)
Criminal Convictions, Imprisonment
Pre-school Years
Orphaned (Both Parents)
Siblings
Priest, Religious, Teacher, Coach, Mentor, Patron, Apprentice Master or Owner
Single Adopters or Fosterers
Very Poor (Financially) Adoptive or Foster Families
Other or Unknown Reasons for Serial Placement
Parent(s) Died, Disappeared or Became Incapacitated
Birth Siblings Placed Together
Fostered or Adopted by Birth Sibling(s)