Ignacio López Rayón

Ignacio López Rayón (July 31, 1773, Tlalpujahua, Michoacán, New Spain—February 2, 1832, Mexico City) led the revolutionary government of his country after Miguel Hidalgo's death, during the first years of the Mexican War of Independence.

López Rayón was born in Michoacán and became a lawyer after studying at Saint Nicholas College in Valladolid (nowadays Morelia) and in Mexico City's Colegio de San Ildefonso. During the first months of the Mexican War of Independence, he joined Miguel Hidalgo's troops in Maravatío and defended Zitácuaro. Later on, he became Hidalgo's private secretary and First Secretary of State and, as such, signed the emancipation of slaves on December 6, 1810. He organized, with Francisco Severo Maldonado, the first gazette of the rebellion: "El despertador americano" (in English: "The American Watchclock").

After Hidalgo's death, he became the political leader of the movement and took part with José María Morelos in first National Congress at Chilpancingo. Four years later, he was arrested and sent to prison until 1820. After the war, he became the state treasurer of San Luis Potosí.

López Rayón died on February 2, 1832, in Mexico City.

ee also

*Mexican War of Independence
*History of Mexico

External links

*es icon [http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/espanol/historia/personajes/detalle.cfm?idcat=1&idsec=5&idsub=0&idpag=5046 Short biography]