President Benito Juárez was a prominent Mexican leader who served as president multiple times during the 19th century. Born on March 21, 1806, in Oaxaca, he was of Zapotec descent and became a lawyer and politician. Juárez is best known for his efforts to modernize Mexico and promote civil rights, particularly through the Laws of Reform, which aimed to separate church and state. Juárez's presidency was marked by significant challenges, including the French Intervention and the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire under Maximilian I. Despite these obstacles, he remained committed to democracy and national sovereignty, ultimately restoring the republic in 1867. Juárez passed away on July 18, 1872, and is remembered as a national hero.