Hidalgo (y Costilla), Miguel 1753-1811
Mexican priest and revolutionary

Born in Guanajuato state, Mexico, he was a priest in the village of Dolores and a member of a secret society that favoured independence from Spain. Threatened with arrest, he rang the bell of the village church on 16 September 1810 (now celebrated as Mexican independence day) and shouted the grito de Delores - 'Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe, death to bad government, death to the Spaniards!' - thus beginning the revolution. Although his untrained army of 80,000 Indians and mestizos initially was successful, winning victories at Guanajuato and Guadalajara, Hidalgo turned back on the verge of taking Mexico City, and the momentum was lost. His army was defeated by the Spanish (Jan 1811), and after fleeing northwards he was captured and executed. Hidalgo is known as the father of Mexican independence.