Timeline July 1811

Events in July 1811 3

• 1753 – 1811 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811) Died 30 July 1811, aged 58 Mexican Catholic priest who launched the Mexican War of Independence with his 1810 "Cry of Dolores" call to revolt against Spanish rule. He was captured and executed by firing squad after early military defeats. He is widely honored as the Father of Mexican Independence.
• 1811 Chile convenes its First National Congress Early step toward Chilean self-government under Spanish rule Delegates met in Santiago to form Chile's first representative national congress, part of the broader movement toward autonomy sweeping Spanish America after Napoleon's invasion of Spain. The congress operated under nominal loyalty to the deposed Spanish king while asserting local self-rule. It set the stage for Chile's full independence, declared in 1818.
• 1811 Venezuela declares independence from Spain First Latin American nation to formally break from Spanish rule The Supreme Junta of Caracas issued a formal declaration of independence, creating the First Republic of Venezuela. Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Miranda were among the leading figures in the movement. Spain did not recognize the declaration, and years of war followed before independence was secured.