One of the most important political figures of 19th-century Mexico, Benito Juárez played a pivotal role in fighting against foreign occupation in Mexico. He served as the President of Mexico for five terms. Juárez endured a tough childhood—he was orphaned at the age of three, raised by guardians, and spent most of his youth working in cornfields and as a shepherd. He later joined a seminary intending to become a priest but eventually pursued a degree in law. Soon after, he became actively involved in local politics and passionately defended the rights of poor Indigenous communities. He represented the marginalized natives and became one of the leading lawyers in Oaxaca. Juárez soon rose to prominence, becoming a federal court judge and later being appointed as the governor of Oaxaca. During the military regime of Antonio López de Santa Anna, Juárez went into exile but returned to play a significant role in overthrowing Santa Anna's government. As President, he resisted the French occupation of Mexico and led the fight against the Second Mexican Empire under Maximilian I.