A bronze statue of former president of Mexico, Benito Juarez stands on a sandstone base.
Artist: Heriberto Juarez
Artwork description
This statue of former president of Mexico, Benito Juarez is made from bronze and stands around 2m tall on a sandstone plinth.
It is part of a series of busts of famous Latin American heroes displayed at the Ibero American Plaza. The series commemorates the contribution of Spanish and Portuguese speaking people to the history of Australia.
More information
Benito Juarez was born in the Zapotec village of San Pablo Guelato, Oaxaca on 21 March 1806. His parents died when he was 3 years old.
In 1827 he graduated from the seminary of Santa Cruz and entered the Oaxaca Institute of Arts and Sciences the following year. In 1831 he qualified to enter a local law office while also beginning a career as an anti-establishment liberal politician. In 1831 Juarez was elected alderman on the Oaxaca town council.
His legal career often involved serving as the representative of impoverished Indian communities in their struggles to protect their land-holdings. He was exiled to Havana and New Orleans in 1853 but when the liberals assumed power in 1855 with Juan Alvarez as president, Juarez became minister for justice.
In 1860 the people elected him as president. His government guaranteed free speech, free press, the right of assembly and the abolition of special legal privileges. He fought for and established a liberal constitution and stubbornly saved the country from foreign domination.
He died on 18 July 1872 at his desk while still president. Juarez is well remembered as one of the greatest Mexican statesmen.
Artist
The bust was created by Heriberto Juarez, a renowned Mexican sculptor.
