Benito Juárez was Mexico’s president during the Battle of Puebla, remembered on Cinco de Mayo.
Juárez led Mexico during a period of severe political and financial crisis. In 1861, his government suspended payments on foreign debts, prompting European intervention. Britain and Spain eventually negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, while France continued its campaign under Napoleon III.
The Battle of Puebla occurred during Juárez’s presidency on May 5, 1862. Although the victory strengthened Mexican resistance and became a symbol of national sovereignty, it did not immediately remove the French threat. French forces later captured Mexico City and supported the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire.
Juárez remained central to the republican resistance. After the French-backed empire collapsed in 1867, he returned to Mexico City and continued as president. His period in office is often called the Reform era, associated with liberal constitutional and secular reforms.