Jose de la Cruz PorfirioDiaz Mori

Mexican Republic President. Born of mixed Indian-European heritage, he joined a band of liberal guerrillas who were fighting the resurgent General Santa Anna in 1855. Finding that the military was his true vocation, he stayed in the Army and fought against the French and in the civil wars that wracked Mexico in the mid-to-late 19th Century. As a General Diaz became known for his bravery, fought valiantly in the Battle of Puebla and defeated the Mexican forces under General Ignacio Zaragoza, on May 5, 1862. In 1872, after President Juarez died, General Diaz with support of the United States and the Catholic Church, brought an Army into Mexico City, removing President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada and seizing power in an election in 1876. For 35 years, he was President and ruler of the Republic of Mexico, (1876-1911). Under his Presidency, an economics with foreign investments developed Mexico's vast resources. Money came in from the United States, Europe and soon mines, plantations and factories were built for production. The Americans and British invested heavily in mines, oil and the French had large textile factories. His policies were wildly successful for the nation and after he left office the discontents of most of the country’s people brought about the Mexican Revolution, (1911-20).