Miguel Domínguez

Background

Miguel Domínguez, a Criollo born in the Americas, trained as a lawyer at the College of San Ildefonso before entering practice. In 1791, he met Josefa Ortiz at the College of the Vizcainas and married her that same year; she was twelve years his junior. He worked in several treasury and viceregal administrative posts. Viceroy Félix Berenguer de Marquina appointed him corregidor of Querétaro.

Domínguez objected to Viceroy José de Iturrigaray’s seizure of church properties in 1805. Three years later, he urged Querétaro’s city council to unite with Mexico City’s government in forming a junta to rule New Spain for the deposed King Ferdinand VII. Viceroy Iturrigaray at least quietly backed this plan.

Independence conspiracy

In Querétaro, Miguel Domínguez and his wife were part of a secret independence movement that formed after France took over Spain. The group pretended to be a literary society and met at the home of priest José María Sánchez, with Domínguez, the local corregidor, offering protection. Along with the Domínguezes and Sánchez, the plotters included lawyers Parra, Laso, and Altamirano, plus military men Joaquín Arias, Francisco Lanzagorta Inchaurreri, Ignacio Allende, and Juan Aldama.

Allende and Aldama were based in San Miguel el Grande, Guanajuato, and kept in touch with Father Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores, Guanajuato, as did Domínguez. The González brothers, Emeterio and Epigmenio, also joined in Querétaro, making weapons for the uprising. Similar plots were underway in San Miguel, Celaya, Guanajuato, San Felipe, San Luis Potosí, and Mexico City. Hidalgo was picked to lead, and the rebellion was first set for December 1, 1810, then moved up to October 2.

But after Arias informed on the group in Querétaro on September 10 and Juan Garrido did the same in Guanajuato on the 13th, the conspirators had to act quickly. Domínguez was ordered to arrest them. He searched Epigmenio González’s house, found arms, and took him into custody. Knowing his wife was deeply involved, Domínguez locked her in an upstairs room while he went to alert the militia.

Josefa Ortiz managed to signal a fellow plotter in the next house, Ignacio Pérez. On September 15, 1810, Pérez rode to San Miguel and then on to Dolores to deliver the warning. The next morning, September 16, 1810, Hidalgo issued the Grito de Dolores, launching the war for Mexican independence. Both Domínguez and his wife were then arrested and held at the convent of La Cruz in Querétaro.

In 1813, his wife was moved to Mexico City and kept at the convent of Santa Clara for several more years. Domínguez, freed but stripped of his office, relocated to Mexico City to stay close to her, visiting when allowed. Viceroy Juan Ruiz de Apodaca later gave him a small pension in recognition of his past service.

Did You Know?

• From 1825 to 1827, he was named president of the Supreme Court.
• He was the President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1830.