Revolutionary Leader. He is called "The Father of Mexican Independence". A Catholic priest of liberal ideas, he tried to improve the lot of Mexico's Indians and peons (laborers) but met with opposition from the church as well as the ruling Spaniards. On the night of September 15, 1810, Hidalgo rang the bells of his church in the village of Dolores and delivered his famous "Cry of Dolores", in which he demanded Mexico's independence from Spain. The following day he began raising a huge army from among his followers. He won several important victories but failed to take Mexico City and was ultimately routed by the better-trained and equipped Spanish. On March 21, 1811, Hidalgo was captured while attempting to flee to the United States. He was found guilty of treason, excommunicated, and shot on July 30; his head was left on a post as a warning to the rebels. But this did not end the insurrection, and by 1821 Mexico was freed from Spanish rule. Hidalgo's skull was preserved and in 1910 it was buried in the Monument of Independence. Today Mexico celebrates September 16 as its Independence Day, and there are statues of Father Hidalgo in virtually every town and village in the country.
Revolutionary Leader. He is called "The Father of Mexican Independence". A Catholic priest of liberal ideas, he tried to improve the lot of Mexico's Indians and peons (laborers) but met with opposition from the church as well as the ruling Spaniards. On the night of September 15, 1810, Hidalgo rang the bells of his church in the village of Dolores and delivered his famous "Cry of Dolores", in which he demanded Mexico's independence from Spain. The following day he began raising a huge army from among his followers. He won several important victories but failed to take Mexico City and was ultimately routed by the better-trained and equipped Spanish. On March 21, 1811, Hidalgo was captured while attempting to flee to the United States. He was found guilty of treason, excommunicated, and shot on July 30; his head was left on a post as a warning to the rebels. But this did not end the insurrection, and by 1821 Mexico was freed from Spanish rule. Hidalgo's skull was preserved and in 1910 it was buried in the Monument of Independence. Today Mexico celebrates September 16 as its Independence Day, and there are statues of Father Hidalgo in virtually every town and village in the country.
Bio by: Gabriel Solis
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