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Diaz (PORFIRIO d th a Mexican)

PORFIRIO (dē'äth), a Mexican statesman; born in Oaxaca, Sept. 15, PORFIRIO DIAZ 1830; received a classical education at the Oaxaca Institute, and had begun studying law when the war with the DICENTRA United States broke out; served through that struggle in the National Guard, and on the conclusion of peace made a study of military science. On Santa Ana's accession to the dictatorship, he left the army and practiced law, but returned and bore a conspicuous part in the revolution of 1854; took the field to oppose the French troops and was taken prisoner, but made his escape; harassed Maximilian's troops till forced to surrender a second time at Oaxaca in 1865; besieged and captured Puebla in 1867, and immediately marched on Mexico City, which surrendered to him June 21. On the re-establishment of the republic he was an unsuccessful candidate for president. In 1872 and 1876 he led revolutions against the government, and occupied the capital in the latter year. In 1877 he was elected president. According to the "plan of Tuxtepec," which he had proclaimed, he was ineligible to succeed himself. His secretary, General Gonzales, was elected president, and General Diaz was appointed Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, and elected governor of Oaxaca.

In 1884 he was re-elected president; in 1886 his partisans secured the abolition of the law prohibiting a second consecutive presidential term, and he was thereafter continuously re-elected for seven consecutive terms. He abdicated May 22, 1911, and died in July 1915.