Andrés Quintana Roo
Encyclopedia
Andrés Quintana Roo was a Mexican liberal politician and author. He was one of the most influential men in the War of Independence
and served as a member of the Congress of Chilpancingo
. He presided over the Constitutional Assembly, which drafted Mexico's Declaration of Independence
in 1813, and served as a Legislator
, Senator
, and Secretary of State
numerous times. He also served as a member of the Supreme Court
and as a member of the Gobierno tripartito (Three-parted Government) (December 23–31, 1829), edited and ran the Semanario Patriótico (Weekly Patriotic). The state of Quintana Roo
was named after him.
in the Real y Pontificia Universidad de Nueva España.
His father established the first printing press
which printed the first newspapers on the Yucatán Peninsula
. This seemed problematic to the Viceroys of New Spain and he was apprehended and sent to jail.
Quintana Roo turned to his studies and graduated as a lawyer, becoming a resident at the law firm of don Agustín Pomposo Fernández. It was there that he met Leona Vicario
, niece of don Agustín, with whom he fell in love. Because don Agustín was pro-crown and Quintana Roo was pro-independence he was the denied Leona's hand in marriage. Despite this, Leona financially supported the independence cause. She was caught in 1813 and locked in the Colegio de Belén, but she managed to escape in disguise, fleeing to Tlapujahua where she married Quintana Roo.
He died on April 15, 1851 in Mexico City. His remains lie next to those of his wife, Leona, in the mausoleum
of the Column of Independence
in Mexico City.
.
He served as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs under Emperor
Agustín de Iturbide
from 1822 to 1823. He also served as a Justice of the Supreme Court
(1824–27) and as a federal deputy
representing the state of México
.
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
and served as a member of the Congress of Chilpancingo
Congress of Chilpancingo
The Congress of Chilpancingo was a meeting held in Chilpancingo, in what is the modern-day Mexican state of Guerrero, from September to November 1813. The result of this meeting was that Mexico formally declared itself to be independent of Spain and what was later to become the first national...
. He presided over the Constitutional Assembly, which drafted Mexico's Declaration of Independence
Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America
The Solemn Act of Northern America's Declaration of Independence is the first Mexican legal historical document which established the separation of Mexico from Spanish rule...
in 1813, and served as a Legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
, Senator
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
, and Secretary of State
Mexican Executive Cabinet
The cabinet of Mexico is the Executive Cabinet and is a part of the executive branch of the Mexican government. It consists of eighteen Secretaries of State, the head of the federal executive legal office and the Attorney General....
numerous times. He also served as a member of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation is the highest federal court in the United Mexican States. It consists of a President of the Supreme Court and ten Ministers who are confirmed by the Senate from a list proposed by the President of the Republic.Justices of the SCJN serve for fifteen...
and as a member of the Gobierno tripartito (Three-parted Government) (December 23–31, 1829), edited and ran the Semanario Patriótico (Weekly Patriotic). The state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
was named after him.
Biography
He was born to don José Matías Quintana and doña María Ana Roo de Quintana. He studied in the Seminario de San Idelfonso de Mérida where he proved his great capacity towards writing; in 1808 he continued his studies in Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in the Real y Pontificia Universidad de Nueva España.
His father established the first printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
which printed the first newspapers on the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. This seemed problematic to the Viceroys of New Spain and he was apprehended and sent to jail.
Quintana Roo turned to his studies and graduated as a lawyer, becoming a resident at the law firm of don Agustín Pomposo Fernández. It was there that he met Leona Vicario
Leona Vicario
Leona Vicario, also less commonly known as Leona Vicario de Quintana Roo was a supporter of the Mexican War of Independence. From her residence in Mexico City, she was able to provide intelligence and money to the rebel movement.She married fellow insurgent Andrés Quintana Roo...
, niece of don Agustín, with whom he fell in love. Because don Agustín was pro-crown and Quintana Roo was pro-independence he was the denied Leona's hand in marriage. Despite this, Leona financially supported the independence cause. She was caught in 1813 and locked in the Colegio de Belén, but she managed to escape in disguise, fleeing to Tlapujahua where she married Quintana Roo.
He died on April 15, 1851 in Mexico City. His remains lie next to those of his wife, Leona, in the mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
of the Column of Independence
El Ángel
El Ángel de la Independencia , most commonly known by theshortened name El Ángel and officially known as Columna de la Independencia, is a victory column located on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City.El Ángel was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of...
in Mexico City.
After independence
After Mexico obtained its independence from Spain, Quintana Roo presided over the National Constitutional Assembly of 1813–14 that drafted the (failed) Constitution of Apatzingán and the later Constitutional Congress that drafted the 1824 Constitution1824 Constitution of Mexico
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was enacted on October 4 of 1824, after the overthrow of the Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide. In the new constitution, the republic took the name of United Mexican States, and was defined as a representative federal republic, with...
.
He served as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs under Emperor
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
from 1822 to 1823. He also served as a Justice of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation is the highest federal court in the United Mexican States. It consists of a President of the Supreme Court and ten Ministers who are confirmed by the Senate from a list proposed by the President of the Republic.Justices of the SCJN serve for fifteen...
(1824–27) and as a federal deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
representing the state of México
Mexico (state)
México , officially: Estado Libre y Soberano de México is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of the United Mexican States. It is divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Toluca de Lerdo....
.