Porfirio Diaz was a mestizo (part Indian) of humble origin. At 15 he started training for the priesthood at 15, but joined the army at 16 when a two year war broke out with the United States. Diaz then studied law for a few years, with the encouragement of Benito Juarez, a soon-to-be president. Diaz then settled into a military career. During the next two decades, he took part in the War of the Reform and fought against the French.