Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was born at the Corralejo Hacienda in Penjamo,
Guanajuato, on May 8, 1753.
He was sent to Valladolid (now Morelia) to study at the San Nicolas Obispo College, where he later taught theology, philosophy and ethics, and eventually became college rector. In 1792, he was ordained (he became a priest) and after working a different parishes, came to practice his ministry at the Parish of Dolores.
Of liberal ideas, he joined a group of patriots, who in 1810, conspired in Queretaro in favor of the Independence of Mexico. Although the armed movement was planned to start in October of that year, the conspiracy was discovered and several of its members were arrested. After receiving a warning sent by the wife of the magistrate of Queretaro, Dona Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, Hidalgo joined with Aldama, Allende, Abasolo and others, and decided to begin the uprising immediately. Thus, at dawn on September 16, 1810, the residents of the village of Dolores, potters, carpenters, blacksmiths and peasants, responded to the summons of father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to begin the Independence struggle.
In the space of just two weeks, the insurgent army obtained a series of quick and easy victories. From Dolores, they moved on to Atotonilco, San Miguel el Grande (now Allende), Chamucuero, Celaya (where Miguel Hidalgo received the rank of Captain General, and Ignacio Allende was promoted to Lieutenant General), Salamanca, Irapuato and Silao, until reaching Guanajuato.Faced by the insurgent army, the Spaniards took refuge with their families and goods in the Alhondiga de Granaditas corn exchange in the city of Guanajuato. However, after a bloody struggle in which the furious crowd massacred its defenders, the fortress was finally taken. From Guanajuato, Don Miguel Hidalgo headed towards Valladolid and took the city on October 17, 1810, without a fight. He then stayed in the city for several days to organize his troops before leaving for the viceregal capital, Mexico City.
On August 30, Hidalgo won an outstanding victory at Monte de las Cruces in the outskirts of Mexico, when he defeated Trujillo (a Royalist colonel). Unfortunately, Hidalgo did not take advantage of his victory; instead of sending his troops to take Mexico City and capitalize on the confusion his victory has caused among the Spanish ranks, he ordered his army to retreat to Ixtlahuaca, on the road to Toluca. At Puente de Calderon, near Guadalajara, the insurgent army faced the royalist troops commanded by general Felix Calleja; Hidalgo and his men suffered a terrible defeat and were forced to retreat northwards.
On May 21, 1811, when Hidalgo, Allende and 27 other comrades reached Acatita de Bajan, they were treacherously ambushed by Ignacio Elizondo and taken prisoner. They were brought to Chihuahua, where on June 16, 1811, Allende, Aldama and Jimenez were shot. Just one month later, on July 30 of the same year, Hidalgo was also executed.
The viceregal government was convinced that after the execution of its leaders in Chihuahua, the insurgent movement would be ended. However, this was not so.Ignacio Lopez Rayon had remained in Saltillo; he managed to escape from the enemy and marched to the province of Michoacan, where he and his troops would receive help from the local population. Unfortunately for the royalists, military genius Jose Maria Morelos was fighting in the southern mountains, in support of the victorious campaigns led by the Galeana and Bravo brothers, Mariano Matamoros and many others.
By 1821, the ideals fought for by Miguel Hidalgo and many other Mexicans for over eleven years were finally attained; Mexico was free and independent.
En Español
Revolucionario mexicano nacido en San Juan del Rio, Durango, en 1876 – muerto en Parral, Chihuahua, en 1923.Sacerdote mexicano iniciador de la independencia de Mexico, conocido como el "Padre de la Patria". Nacio el 8 de mayo de 1753 en el rancho de San Vicente, perteneciente a la hacienda de San Diego Corralejo, jurisdiccion de Penjamo, Guanajuato, y fue bautizado con los nombres de Jose Miguel Gregorio e Ignacio, en la capilla de Cuitzeo de los Naranjos, el dia 16 del mismo mes y ano.
Hijo de don Cristobal Hidalgo y Costilla, administrador de la hacienda de San Diego Corralejo, y de dona Ana Maria Gallaga Mandarte, hija de don Antonio Gallaga, arrendatario del rancho de San Vicente. Tuvo tres hermanos con quieres se crio en el lugar de su nacimiento. Nacido en el seno de una familia virtuosa y honorable, su infancia fue apacible y alegre. Llegado a la adolescencia paso a Valladolid junto con sus hermanos para estudiar una carrera. Miguel escogio la carrera eclesiastica e ingreso al Colegio de San Nicolas.
Curso sus estudios profesionales en el Colegio de San Nicolas, en la ciudad de Valladolid, (hoy Morelia). Esta ciudad fue fundada en 1541 por el virrey don Antonio de Mendoza. En San Nicolas tuvo oportunidad de entrar en contacto con ilustres maestros que no solamente le impartieron conocimientos academicos, sino que le ensenaron a pensar. Ademas de las disciplinas porpias de su profesion, aprendio Hidalgo el idioma frances, lo que le permitio ampliar sus conocimientos cada vez mas a traves de lecturas del pensamiento europeo de su tiempo. Su aplicacion al estudio, aunada a la brillantes de su talento, le hicientos sobresalir y lograr que se le encargasen varias catedras, alcanzando finalmente el rango de Rector del Colegio.
Y no solamente ensenaba en su escuela parroquial, sino que aplicaba lo aprendido a traves de sus lecturas y de su experiencia. Es de justicia enfatizar que D. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla fue, como lo habian sido los primeros misioneros llegados al Continente Americano, un verdadero apostol de las labores sociales; un precursor de lo que hoy se llama el "trabajo social", pero aplicado a su tiempo, a su circunstancia. Tenia los altos relieves de un enciclopedista, cosa nada corriente en su tiempo. Amaba las artes, practicaba la musica y la literatura y, por su trato cordial y agradable habia ganado no solamente el respeto, sino tambien el carino de sus feligreses, lo que explica el gran ascendiente que ejercia sobre ellos.
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