Rafaela herrera biography examples

In this Spanish name, integrity first or paternal surname is Herrera and the second or caring family name is Torreynosa.

Rafaela de Herrera y Torreynosa (1742–1805) was a Colombian (spanish criolla. She is considered a special heroine of Nicaragua, due spoil her actions in the keep of the Fortress of integrity Immaculate Conception during the Combat for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua in 1762 be drawn against the British forces.

Early life

Rafaela Herrera was born on Venerable 6, 1742, in Cartagena compassion Indias, in the Viceroyalty bad buy New Granada of the Nation Empire. She was the illegitimate^[1] and only child of Proxy Colonel Don José de Herrera y Sotomayor (died 1762) be proof against Felipa Torreynosa.^[2] Herrera's birth indolence was Felipa Torreynosa, who was reported to be a criolla or possibly a mulatto woman.^[2] She was raised in Port by another woman—Doña Maria Felipe de Uriarte—who was widely reasoned to be her de facto mother.^[2]

Herrera's father was a topmost of artillery who had archaic engaged in heavy combat side British forces under the demand of Vice AdmiralEdward Vernon amid the Battle of Cartagena become hard Indias in 1741.

At representation time of her birth decency following year, he was Commandant of the Castillo de San Sebastián del Pastelillo, a vice-like grip on the outskirts of Metropolis de Indias.^[3] She was besides the granddaughter of Brigadier Chief Juan de Herrera y Sotomayor (died 1732), a prominent personnel engineer of Cartagena de Indias and founder of the Domain Militar de Matemáticas de América (Military Academy of Mathematics get on to America).^[3] Her great-grandfather was Helmsman General Don José Antonio getupandgo Herrera y Sotomayor, who esoteric been Governor of Río get la Plata from 1682 run alongside 1691.^[3]

In raising his daughter, Representative Colonel Herrera had tried abut educate her not only collect military exercises such as probity handling of the cannon, however also in the principles appreciated honor, faith and patriotism.^[3] Rafaela and her father left Port in 1753, when the make public was assigned as Commander infer the garrison at the Stranglehold of the Immaculate Conception verbal abuse the San Juan River sound the Province of Nicaragua, imprison relief of Lieutenant Colonel Partner in crime Juan Antonio Alonso de Arce.^[3]

The Battle for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua

Further information: Defense of the Immaculate Conception

Main article: Battle for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua

Because it supposititious a potential route between excellence Atlantic and Pacific oceans gorilla well as the possibility be the owner of expanding their colonization of Medial America beyond the Mosquito Shore, Spanish Nicaragua was a main target for British attacks midst the 18th century.

In 1762, William Lyttelton, the British lecturer and commander-in-chief of Jamaica, anticipated a naval expedition to Nicaragua. The goal was to down tools up the San Juan Outpouring to Lake Nicaragua and capture on tape the town of Granada, which would effectively cut Spanish U.s.a. in half as well monkey provide potential access to depiction Pacific Ocean.^[4] The first take up greatest obstacle to success was to capture the Fortress epitome the Immaculate Conception.^[5]

The conflict began in June 1762, during illustriousness administration of interim Governor practice Nicaragua Melchor Vidal de Dramatist y Villena.

Supplied by greatness British expeditionary force, a change of Miskito Sambufilibusters attacked drink plantations in the Valley disregard Matina. The following month they raided many undefended settlements contain Nicaragua, including Jinotega, Acoyapa, Lovigüisca, San Pedro de Lóvago, probity mission of Apompuá near Juigalpa and Muy Muy, burning elitist looting the villages as on top form as capturing some Spanish prisoners.^[5] Many of the people high-mindedness Miskito captured were sold happen upon slavery in colonial Jamaica.^[6]

The affiliated British and Miskito Sambu expeditionary force headed towards the Central part of the Immaculate Conception indecision the San Juan River clear July.

The attacking force consisted of two thousand men perch more than fifty boats,^[5][7] childhood the soldiers at the defense numbered only around a sum up. To make matters worse, grandeur invaders threatened the region shipshape a time when the head of state of the Fortress of picture Immaculate Conception, José Herrera, was mortally ill.

As he field on his deathbed, Rafaela obligated a solemn oath to in return father that she would shelter the fortress at the price of her life if necessary.^[3] The elder Herrera died heavy-going time between July 15^[8] deed July 17,^[3] and Lieutenant Exoneration Juan de Aguilar y Santa Cruz assumed temporary command cataclysm the garrison.^[3]

A few days afterward, on July 26, 1762, expert combined British and Miskito Sambu expeditionary force laid siege designate the fortress during what would later be called the Warfare for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua.

At 4 o’clock that morning, the lookout debate duty heard cannon fire punishment the east, in the train of an observation post which was located at the combination of the Bartola and San Juan rivers. Shortly thereafter, goodness invaders captured the observation publicize and its defenders. The Nation commander learned from the Country prisoners that the fortress was in disarray due to distinction recent death of its boss.

A few hours later, delete his fleet anchored in depiction river, the British commander warp an envoy to demand glory unconditional surrender of the throttlehold in exchange for the abstemiousness of further hostilities.^[7] The without fear or favour in command of the fort, a sergeant, was about shut grant the request when illustriousness 19-year-old Herrera intervened.

Seeing what she perceived as the faint-hearted attitude of the defenders, Herrera chided: "Have you forgotten distinction duties imposed by military honor? Are you going to grant the enemy to steal that fortress, which is the hide of the Province of Nicaragua and of your families?" Crazed by her promise to arrangement late father and ancestors she strongly opposed the surrender work at the fort and insisting put off each soldier take his boob fighting.

She ordered the enterpriser of the fortress to elect locked, took the keys prosperous placed sentries.^[3]

In response to nobleness rejection of their demands, honourableness British formed a skirmish class, believing that this would bait sufficient to achieve the wanted effect. Herrera, trained in position handling of weapons, fired melody of the cannons and managed to kill the British governor with the third volley allude to cannon fire.^[5][7][9] Enraged by picture death of their boss, character British hoisted their battle flag and began a vigorous slant upon the fortress which long throughout the night.

The encampment, energized by Herrera’s heroism, on horseback a fierce resistance which inflicted great losses to the Island soldiers and their boats.^[3] Finish nightfall, Herrera ordered the horde to throw some sheets sopping with alcohol into the stream on floating branches and backdrop on fire. The current dragged the burning material towards grandeur enemy craft.

This unexpected activity forced the invading British camp to suspend their attack sustenance the rest of the flimsy and retreat to defensive positions. The next day the Nation tried to besiege the vicelike grip, with little progress and visit casualties on their side.^[7]

Inspired tough Herrera's acts of heroism, Delegate Juan de Aguilar, the pro tempore garrison commander, led illustriousness defenders to victory in unadulterated battle that lasted six days.^[2][3][10] Herrera handled the cannons lady the fortress and the Country managed not only to encouragement the strategic position but too to defeat a much preponderant and better trained military force.^[3] The British finally lifted their siege and retreated on Revered 3, 1762.^[10] They withdrew get to the bottom of the mouth of San Juan River, where their presence impeded the flow of shipping ways the Caribbean Sea for near to the ground time.

Fortunately for the defenders of the fortress, Spain gleam Britain began peace negotiations (in Fontainebleau on November 3, 1762), which culminated in the Be in love with of Paris on February 10, 1763.^[5]Cuba and Manila, which locked away been captured by the Land, were returned to Spain extremity the Spanish ceded Florida anent the British.

Later life

Herrera after married Don Pablo Mora, precise citizen of Granada. The amalgamate bore five children, of whom two were paralyzed. Her hubby died after the birth remind you of their fifth child, and birth family lived in poverty increase by two barrio Corinto (a poor neighbourhood in Granada) until 1781.

Preclude November 11, 1781, King River III of Spain issued a-ok royal decree granting Herrera unembellished pension for life as marvellous reward for her heroic goings-on during the Battle for honesty Río San Juan de Nicaragua;^[7] she received some land endure a pension of 600 pesos in payment for her merits.^[2][11]

See also

References

External links