early revolution, a better acquaintance will aid our purpose. His father, Cristóbal Hidalgo y Costilla, was a native of Tejupilco in the intendency of Mexico, and established himself in Pénjamo in the province of Guanajuato. There he betrothed and married Ana María Gallaga,[1] and in May 1753, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was born.[2] Don Cristóbal presently removed to the hacienda of Corralejo with his wife and four children, of whom Miguel was the second. Their father afterward sent them to Valladolid to be educated, and there Miguel distinguished himself in philosophy and ecclesiastical studies at the college of San Nicolás, where his fellow-collegiates gave him the name of The Fox, an appellation intended as complimentary by reason of his sagacity.[3]
So highly did the ecclesiastical chapter of Valladolid estimate his theological acquirements, and the ability he displayed in the public discussion of certain themes, that it gave him $4,000 to enable him to go to Mexico and obtain his degree of doctor of theology. Hidalgo, however, spent the money—some say at play and in dissipation—before accomplishing his journey.[4] Nevertheless, in 1778 and 1779 he went to the capital and was there ordained, receiving the degree of bachelor of theology. On his return to Valladolid he obtained successive appointments as cura to two of the richest benefices in the diocese,[5]
- ↑ Tradition affirms that Ana María was an orphan in the house of Gallaga, and that while waiting at table, on the occasion of Don Cristóbal's first visit, her grace and beauty won his heart. Gallo, Hombres Illust., iii. 240.
- ↑ A copy of his baptismal registry will be found in Alaman, Hist, Mej., iii. app. 75. Documents establishing the place and date of his birth are supplied by Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., i. 455-72.
- ↑ Alaman, Hist. Mej., i. 351. Montaña, Caracter Polit. y Marcial, in a metrical fable published shortly after the battle of Aculco represents Hidalgo as a fox, and Allende as a serpent, leading their followers, 'una lucida tropa polla,' to destruction. The closing lines are:
'Lector, si tu no entiendes
Lo quo quiere decir la fabulilla:
No importa: entenderálo la gabilla
Que á los Hidalgos sigue y los Allendes.' - ↑ Guerra, Hist. Rev. N. Esp., i. 291. 'Los perdió al juego en Maravatio, al hacer el viaje á México para solicitarlo.' Alaman, ut sup., 352.
- ↑ I have in my possession an original autograph letter of Hidalgo written while he was the cura of Colima. It is dated Colima, July 20, 1792, and signed
