José María Morelos | |
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Engraving of Morelos, signed three weeks after the Congreso de Anáhuac in Chilpancingo.
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President of the Supreme Mexican Government | |
In office October 24, 1814 – November 5, 1815 |
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Preceded by | Post established |
Succeeded by | Ignacio Alas |
Chief of the Congress of Anáhuac | |
In office September 15, 1813 – October 24, 1814 |
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Preceded by | Post established |
Succeeded by | Himself as president under the Constitution of Apatzingan |
Member of the Council of Zitacuaro | |
In office August 19, 1811 – September 15, 1813 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón 30 September 1765 Valladolid, Michoacán, New Spain |
Died | 22 December 1815 San Cristóbal Ecatepec, State of México |
(aged 50)
Resting place | Angel of Independence, Mexico City |
Children | Juan Nepomuceno Almonte |
Alma mater | Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo |
Profession | Arriero, Priest, Military leader, Politician |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Mexico |
Service/branch | Mexican Insurgency |
Years of service | 1810–1815 |
Rank | Generalissimo, Captain General, Colonel |
Battles/wars |
José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón ( xoˈse maˈɾi.a ˈteklo moˈɾelos ˈpe.ɾes i paˈβon ) (September 30, 1765, City of Valladolid, now Morelia, Michoacán – December 22, 1815,San Cristóbal Ecatepec, State of México) was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811. Morelos along with Ignacio López Rayón are credited for the organizational stage of the war of independence. Under Morelos the Congress of Anáhuac was installed on September 13, 1813 and in November 6 of the same year congress declared independence of the country. On October 22, 1814 a constitution, Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana, was drafted by the Congress which declared that Mexico would be a Republic.
After a series of defeats he was captured by the Spanish royalist military, tried by the Inquisition, defrocked as a cleric, and executed by civil authorities for treason in 1815. Morelos is a national hero in Mexico and is considered a very successful military leader despite the fact that he never took a military career and was instead a priest.