Leona Vicario

Leona Vicario was one of the most prominent figures of the Mexican War of Independence. She was born in Mexico City in 1789, to a wealthy family of Spanish origin. She received an extensive education in the sciences, arts, and literature. She became interested in the ideas of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and joined a secret society called Los Guadalupes, which supported the independence movement. She used her fortune and influence to help the insurgents, by providing them with money, weapons, medicine, and information. She also wrote propaganda articles for the insurgent newspapers. She was arrested and interrogated in 1813, but refused to betray her comrades. She managed to escape and joined the rebel army, where she met and married Andrés Quintana Roo, a lawyer and politician who also fought for independence. They had three daughters and participated in several battles and campaigns. After the independence was achieved in 1821, Leona Vicario continued to be involved in politics and journalism. She defended the federalist cause and opposed the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna. She also wrote a memoir of her experiences in the war, which was published posthumously. She died in Mexico City in 1842, at the age of 53. She was honored as a heroine and a mother of the nation, and her remains were transferred to the Monument to the Independence in 1925.