Mier Noriega y Guerra, José Servando Teresa de, 1763-1827

Priest, writer, statesman, revolutionary for independence from Spain. Born 1763 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon; died 1827 in Mexico City. Mier entered the Dominican order in 1780, and by 1790 had his doctorate in theology and had been ordained. In 1794, Mier gave a controversial sermon on Our Lady of Guadalupe. As a result he was sentenced to ten years in exile and reclusion in Spain, forbidden ever to preach or hear confession again, and stripped of his doctoral degree. From 1795 to 1823 Mier suffered repeated imprisonment for his ideas and activities. For his participation in the Mina Expedition (1816-1817) to assist revolutionaries in New Spain, he was tried by the Inquisition; he escaped in 1820. Mier served as deputy for Monterrey to the First Constituent Congress and as representative of Nuevo Leon to the Second Constituent Congress. In 1824 he signed the Federal Constitution of the United States of Mexico.

From the description of José Servando Teresa de Mier Noriega y Guerra Papers, 1808-1823. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 29761022

Dominican friar, writer, orator, revolutionary for independence from Spain, politician. Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, October 28, 1763; died in Mexico City December 3, 1827. Entered Dominican order in 1780. By 1790 Mier had his doctorate in theology and had been ordained.

On December 12, 1794, Mier gave a sermon arguing that the original painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe was on the cloak of Saint Thomas the Apostle, who had preached in the Americas long before Spanish conquest. As a result, he was sentenced to ten years in exile and reclusion in Spain, forbidden ever to preach or hear confession again, and stripped of his doctoral degree.

Between 1795 and 1800 Mier was imprisoned in Veracruz, Cadiz, Las Caldas, Burgos, and Salamanca; he escaped and was recaptured at least twice. In 1801 he escaped to France where he met Simón Rodríguez, future teacher of Simón Bolívar. Together they opened a Spanish language academy. Mier returned to Spain in 1803 and was imprisoned, escaping in 1804. In 1805 he was employed as secretary to Spanish consul in Lisbon. Between 1808 and 1811 Mier was involved in military struggle against Napoleon, was imprisoned, and escaped.

In 1811 Mier went to London, where he wrote and published “Cartas de un americano al español” and “Historia de la revolución de la Nueva España”, using the pseudonym José Guerra (1813). With Francisco Javier Mina, he planned and participated in military expedition to assist revolutionaries in New Spain. In 1817 the Mina expedition arrived in Soto la Marina in Mexico and constructed a fortress. Mier was left in charge of the fortress but was defeated by Joaquín de Arredondo. Mier was imprisoned in Mexico City and tried by the Inquisition. While in prison he wrote Apología and Memorias.

He was deported to Spain in 1820 but escaped from jail in Havana. In 1821 Mier lived in Philadelphia and wrote “Memoria político-instructiva”. In 1822 he returned to Mexico, was imprisoned by royalists, released by the First Constituent Congress, elected as deputy for Monterrey to same congress, and then jailed for his criticism of Emperor Agustín Iturbide. In 1823 Mier escaped prison, was recaptured, and later freed by infantry uprising against Iturbide. The same year Mier became representative of Nuevo Leon to the Second Constituent Congress. In 1824 he signed the Federal Constitution of the United States of Mexico. He died on December 3, 1827.

From the guide to the José Servando Teresa de Mier Noriega y Guerra Papers 29761022 ., 1808-1823, (Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)