is own fees at the Law Institute, and help his mother. At
this time he came under the notice and influence of Don Marcos Perez and
Benito Juarez, the first a judge, the second a governor of the state of
Oaxaca, and soon to become famous as the deliverer of Mexico from the
priesthood (War of Reform). Diaz continued in his native town until
1854, when, refusing to vote for the dictator, Santa Anna, he was stung
by a taunt of cowardice, and hastily pushing his way to the voting
place, he recorded his vote in favour of Alvarez and the revolutionists.
Orders were given for his arrest, but seizing a rifle and mounting a
horse he placed himself at the head of a few revolting peasants, and
from that moment became one of the leading spirits in that long struggle
for reform, known as the War of Reform, which, under the leadership of
Juarez, followed the overthrow of Santa Anna. Promotion succeeded
promotion, as Diaz led his troops from victory to victory, amid great
privations and difficulties. He was made captain (1856),
lieutenant-colonel and colonel (1859), brigadier-general (1861), and
general of division for the army (1863). Closely following on civil war,
political strife, open rebellion and the great War of Reform, came the
French invasion of 1862, and the landing of the emperor Maximilian in
1864. From the moment the French disclosed their intentions of settling
in Mexico in 1862, Diaz took a prominent part against the foreign
invasion. He was twice seriously wounded, imprisoned on three different
occasions, had two hairbreadth escapes, and took part in many daring
engagements. So important a personage did he become that both Marshal
Bazaine and the emperor Maximilian made overtures to him. At the time of
Maximilian's death (with which Diaz personally had nothing to do) he was
carrying on the siege of Mexico city, which ended in the surrender of
the town two days after the emperor was shot at Queretaro between his
two leading generals. Diaz at once set to work to pay up arrears due to
his soldiers, proclaimed death as the penalty of plunder and theft, and
in the few weeks that followed showed his great administrative powers,
the officers as well as the rank and file receiving arrears of pay. On
the very day that he occupied Mexico city, the great commander of the
army of the east, to everyone's surprise, sent in his resignation. He
was, indeed, appointed to the command of the second division of the army
by President Juarez