Benito Ju rez (March 21, 1806 - July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Indian who served two terms (1861-1863 and 1867-1872) as President of Mexico. Ju rez is often regarded as Mexico's greatest and most beloved leader.

He is the continent's first and only Native American to serve as President of Mexico.

Benito Pablo Ju rez Garc a was born in the village of San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca. 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 walked to the city of Oaxaca with a wish to educate himself and find a better life. At the time he was illiterate and could speak no Spanish, only Zapotec.

In the city he took a job as a domestic servant, and eagerly made up for his previous lack of education. 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 studied there but decided to pursue the law rather than the priesthood. He graduated from the seminary in 1827, then studied law.

Ju rez 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 L pez de Santa Anna. He spent his exile in New Orleans, Louisiana, working in a cigar factory.

Ju rez returned to Mexico in 1855 and joined with the opposition liberales; two years later they triumphed and Ju rez was made chief justice and vice-president of Mexico, under president Ignacio Comonfort. The conservadores rebelled and civil war erupted. Ju rez succeeded Comonfort as provisional president. Ju rez entered Mexico City on January 11, 1861 to reestablish national unity. He was elected President in March of that year for a four year term.

Following a debt dispute, France invaded Mexico in 1862, with plans by Napoleon III to establish a puppet regime there. After fierce fighting, Ju rez and his elected government were forced to retreat to the northern part of the country.

Ju rez led Mexican opposition to the French invasion and imposition of puppet emperor Maximilian of Habsburg. Maximilian offered rez amnesty, and later the post of prime minister, but Ju rez 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. Maximilian was sentenced to death for treason by a military court. Despite international pleas for amnesty, Ju rez refused to commute the sentence. That same year Ju rez was reelected president.

Benito Ju rez was a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for the nation's indigenous or Indian population, and lessening the great power the Roman Catholic Church then held over Mexican politics. The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma, and constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major institutional consequences: the expropriation of church lands, bringing the army under civilian control, and adoption of a federalist constitution.

Benito Ju rez died of a heart attack while working at his desk in the National Palace in Mexico City.

Monument to Ju rez, Mexico City

Ju rez'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.

The anniversary of Ju rez's birth (March 21) is a national holiday in Mexico (See: Fiestas Patrias).

See also: History of Mexico

Benito Mussolini was named after Ju rez by his Socialist father.

Ju rez has been represented in motion pictures by Paul Muni (1939), Jason Robards, Sr. (1940), Fausto Tozzi (1965), Helmut Schellhardt (1988), and Luis Valdez (1994)

Benito Ju rez is a very common geographical name in Mexico. It is used for:

• A borough (delegaci n) of the Federal District: Benito Ju rez, D.F.
• A municipality in the state of Guerrero: Benito Ju rez, Guerrero.
• A municipality in the state of Quintana Roo: Benito Ju rez, Quintana Roo.
• A municipality in the state of Tlaxcala: Benito Ju rez, Tlaxcala.
• A municipality in the state of Veracruz: Benito Ju rez, Veracruz.
• A municipality in the state of Nuevo Leon: Ciudad Benito Ju rez, Nuevo Leon.
• Mexico City's airport: Benito Ju rez International Airport.
• The state university of Oaxaca: Universidad Aut noma Benito rez de Oaxaca.
• Ciudad Ju rez, Chihuahua, was renamed for Benito Ju rez.
• Naucalpan de Ju rez, municipality of Estado de M xico.