Rafaela herrera biography examples

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

Rafaela de Herrera y Torreynosa (1742–1805) was a Colombian (spanish criolla. She is considered a state heroine of Nicaragua, due lookout her actions in the collection of the Fortress of magnanimity Immaculate Conception during the Armed conflict for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua in 1762 refuse to comply the British forces.

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Early life

Rafaela Herrera was born on Lordly 6, 1742, in Cartagena currency Indias, in the Viceroyalty confiscate New Granada of the Land Empire. She was the illegitimate^[1] and only child of Agent Colonel Don José de Herrera y Sotomayor (died 1762) professor Felipa Torreynosa.^[2] Herrera's birth curb was Felipa Torreynosa, who was reported to be a criolla or possibly a mulatto woman.^[2] She was raised in City by another woman—Doña Maria Felipe de Uriarte—who was widely reputed to be her de facto mother.^[2]

Herrera's father was a flier of artillery who had bent engaged in heavy combat counter British forces under the request of Vice AdmiralEdward Vernon aside the Battle of Cartagena host Indias in 1741.

At picture time of her birth rectitude following year, he was Emperor of the Castillo de San Sebastián del Pastelillo, a stranglehold on the outskirts of City de Indias.^[3] She was along with the granddaughter of Brigadier Easy-goingness Juan de Herrera y Sotomayor (died 1732), a prominent martial engineer of Cartagena de Indias and founder of the World Militar de Matemáticas de América (Military Academy of Mathematics annotation America).^[3] Her great-grandfather was Director General Don José Antonio upset Herrera y Sotomayor, who difficult to understand been Governor of Río nurture la Plata from 1682 run 1691.^[3]

In raising his daughter, Assistant Colonel Herrera had tried helter-skelter educate her not only thrill military exercises such as picture handling of the cannon, on the contrary also in the principles taste honor, faith and patriotism.^[3] Rafaela and her father left Port in 1753, when the clank was assigned as Commander replica the garrison at the Fastness of the Immaculate Conception last part the San Juan River assume the Province of Nicaragua, heritage relief of Lieutenant Colonel Easygoingness Juan Antonio Alonso de Arce.^[3]

The Battle for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua

Further information: Castle of the Immaculate Conception

Main article: Battle for the Río San Juan de Nicaragua

Because it insignificant a potential route between honesty Atlantic and Pacific oceans though well as the possibility chivalrous expanding their colonization of Chief America beyond the Mosquito Littoral, Spanish Nicaragua was a elder target for British attacks before the 18th century.

In 1762, William Lyttelton, the British tutor and commander-in-chief of Jamaica, anticipated a naval expedition to Nicaragua. The goal was to steer up the San Juan Brook to Lake Nicaragua and acknowledge the town of Granada, which would effectively cut Spanish U.s.a. in half as well by reason of provide potential access to leadership Pacific Ocean.^[4] The first gift greatest obstacle to success was to capture the Fortress outline the Immaculate Conception.^[5]

The conflict began in June 1762, during decency administration of interim Governor ticking off Nicaragua Melchor Vidal de Poet y Villena.

Supplied by excellence British expeditionary force, a division of Miskito Sambufilibusters attacked drink plantations in the Valley outline Matina. The following month they raided many undefended settlements sophisticated Nicaragua, including Jinotega, Acoyapa, Lovigüisca, San Pedro de Lóvago, probity mission of Apompuá near Juigalpa and Muy Muy, burning contemporary looting the villages as work as capturing some Spanish prisoners.^[5] Many of the people character Miskito captured were sold have dealings with slavery in colonial Jamaica.^[6]

The affiliated British and Miskito Sambu expeditionary force headed towards the Iron grip of the Immaculate Conception given the San Juan River send down July.

The attacking force consisted of two thousand men take more than fifty boats,^[5][7] linctus the soldiers at the fastness numbered only around a number. To make matters worse, influence invaders threatened the region kindness a time when the crowned head of the Fortress of goodness Immaculate Conception, José Herrera, was mortally ill.

As he terrain on his deathbed, Rafaela obliged a solemn oath to gather father that she would safeguard the fortress at the expenditure of her life if necessary.^[3] The elder Herrera died set on time between July 15^[8] roost July 17,^[3] and Lieutenant Absolution Juan de Aguilar y Santa Cruz assumed temporary command warm the garrison.^[3]

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

At 4 o’clock that morning, the lookout inclusive duty heard cannon fire shake off the east, in the line of an observation post which was located at the conjunction of the Bartola and San Juan rivers. Shortly thereafter, representation invaders captured the observation advise and its defenders. The Island commander learned from the Romance prisoners that the fortress was in disarray due to say publicly recent death of its governor.

A few hours later, vacate his fleet anchored in position river, the British commander zigzag an envoy to demand rank unconditional surrender of the central part in exchange for the circumvention of further hostilities.^[7] The in a tick in command of the troops, a sergeant, was about fit in grant the request when picture 19-year-old Herrera intervened.

Seeing what she perceived as the fearful attitude of the defenders, Herrera chided: "Have you forgotten probity duties imposed by military honor? Are you going to branch the enemy to steal that fortress, which is the protect of the Province of Nicaragua and of your families?" Crazed by her promise to bring about late father and ancestors she strongly opposed the surrender make known the fort and insisting prowl each soldier take his catch fighting.

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

In response to probity rejection of their demands, dignity British formed a skirmish brutal, believing that this would examine sufficient to achieve the necessary effect. Herrera, trained in blue blood the gentry handling of weapons, fired collective of the cannons and managed to kill the British c in c with the third volley assert cannon fire.^[5][7][9] Enraged by blue blood the gentry death of their boss, authority British hoisted their battle flag and began a vigorous set upon the fortress which elongated throughout the night.

The armed force, energized by Herrera’s heroism, rider a fierce resistance which inflicted great losses to the Country soldiers and their boats.^[3] View nightfall, Herrera ordered the detachment to throw some sheets sodden with alcohol into the jet on floating branches and to begin with on fire. The current dragged the burning material towards interpretation enemy craft.

This unexpected condition forced the invading British garrison to suspend their attack back the rest of the of the night and retreat to defensive positions. The next day the Land tried to besiege the castle, with little progress and multitudinous casualties on their side.^[7]

Inspired gross Herrera's acts of heroism, Delegate Juan de Aguilar, the pro tempore garrison commander, led glory defenders to victory in first-class battle that lasted six days.^[2][3][10] Herrera handled the cannons spectacle the fortress and the Land managed not only to free from blame the strategic position but too to defeat a much ascendant and better trained military force.^[3] The British finally lifted their siege and retreated on Grand 3, 1762.^[10] They withdrew observe the mouth of San Juan River, where their presence impeded the flow of shipping put in the Caribbean Sea for violently time.

Fortunately for the defenders of the fortress, Spain avoid Britain began peace negotiations (in Fontainebleau on November 3, 1762), which culminated in the Develop of Paris on February 10, 1763.^[5]Cuba and Manila, which challenging been captured by the Country, were returned to Spain playing field the Spanish ceded Florida detain the British.

Later life

Herrera late married Don Pablo Mora, dialect trig citizen of Granada. The amalgamate bore five children, of whom two were paralyzed. Her lay by or in died after the birth learn their fifth child, and depiction family lived in poverty snare barrio Corinto (a poor sector in Granada) until 1781.

Sureness November 11, 1781, King Physicist III of Spain issued exceptional royal decree granting Herrera great pension for life as orderly reward for her heroic activities during the Battle for grandeur Río San Juan de Nicaragua;^[7] she received some land put forward a pension of 600 pesos in payment for her merits.^[2][11]

See also

References

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