[Morelos y Pavón]. Mexican patriot, born at Valladolid, near Apatzingan, Mexico, on the 30th of September 1765. His birthplace, Valladolid, was renamed Morelia in his honor. Born of poor parents, his early manhood was spent as a muleteer between Mexico and Acapulco. When only thirty years old was he able to meet the expense of a college education; in 1800 he graduated as a priest and obtained a parish. He assisted his old college rector, Miguel Hidalgo, when the latter proclaimed independence from Spain in 1810, capturing Acapulco and a large amount of arms, ammunition and supplies. After temporary defeats he conquered every place on the Pacific coast, entering Tixtla, August 16, 1810, after gaining twenty-two victories over the Spaniards. Besieged in Cuautla by much superior forces, he finally broke through the enemy’s lines and captured Orizaba and Oaxaca in November 1812. Having organized a government he called a congress, which met at Chilpancingo, and on November 6, 1813, signed the Mexican Declaration of Independence. Marching upon Valladolid with twenty thousand men to capture the city and make it the provisional capital, Morelos was defeated twice by Iturbide, and finally, in January 1814, fled to Acapulco. He joined the Congress at Texmacala, and was elected one of the Supreme Triumvirs, October 2, 1814. Routed by General Concha, November 1815, he was made a prisoner and sent to Mexico City, where, after being compelled to perform penance before the Inquisition, he was shot on the 22nd of December 1815.
