HIDALGO Y COSTILLA, Miguel, me gel' &cargo" a Iths-terya, Mexican revolutionist, first leader in the Mexican war of independ ence: b. state of Guanajuato, 8 May 1753; shot in Chihuahua, Mexico, 27 July 1811. He was a priest, and in earlier life was simply a man of great acquirements, anxious to promote in dustry in Mexico, and noted for conscientious fulfilment of his ecclesiastical functions. He is said to have introduced the silkworm into Mexico, and did much to promote the culture of the vine. This conflicted with the policy of the Spanish government, which was to discourage all manufactures or agriculture which could in terfere with the revenue, and the vines Hidalgo had planted were destroyed. This drove him to rebellion. Possessing much influence among the Indians, he formed the plan of a general insurrection, which was to take place 1 Nov. 1810; but the plot having been disclosed by one of the conspirators, some of his party were arrested, and he was obliged to precipitate his movements. On 10 September having been joined by three officers of the garrison of Guanajuato, he raised the standard of revolt. His eloquence had a remarkable effect on the multitude who heard him, and when after his oration he unfurled a rude copy of the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico, the war assumed the character of a crusade. On 29 September with an army of 20,000 men, mostly Indians, he captured Guana juato. He took Valladolid and several small
places, and soon after was proclaimed general issimo of the Mexican army, and advanced against Mexico; but finding himself almost without ammunition, was obliged to retreat. During this war the government party declared that the ordinary rules of warfare need not be observed as regarded the insurgents, while the latter retaliated with the most horrible atroci ties. On one occasion Hidalgo is said to have massacred 700 prisoners because they were Eu ropeans. After several defeats the insurgents were left at Saltillo under charge of Rayon, while Hidalgo and others went to the United States to obtain arms and military aid. On their way they were captured by a former friend, and finally shot in Chihuahua. He was after his death regarded as a saint by the peo ple, and within a few years the place of his execution was shown to travelers as a holy spot. The town of Goliad, Tex., was named in his honor, the H, as silent in pronunciation, being omitted and the other letters rearranged. At the founding of the town the name of Hi dalgo was still proscribed by the Spanish rulers and the transposition of the letters of his name was made in order to avert the attention of the authorities.