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Second son of Don Cristobal Hidalgo y Costilla, manager of the San Diego Corralejo, and Dona Ana Maria Gallaga send you, had three brothers. At age 12 he went to the Mexican city of Valladolid (nowMorelia), where he studied at the Colegio de San Nicolas. Since high school in 1770, went to the Mexico City to pursue higher education.

In 1773 he graduated with a degree in philosophy andtheology, and was opposed a professorship at the College of St. Nicholas himself. During the following years made a brilliant academic career that culminated in 1790 when he was appointed rector of St.Nicholas. In 1778 he was ordained priest to receive Holy Orders served several parishes until the death of his brother Joaquin, in 1803, succeeded him as priest of Dolores, Guanajuato.

Very learned manand an expert on the ideas of the Enlightenment, was running from his parishioners, mostly indigenous, in an attempt to improve their economic and living conditions. This taught them to cultivatevineyards, raising bees and run small industries, which earned him the unconditional support of his parishioners.

In 1808, the invasion of Spain by Napoleon's troops and the subsequent deposition ofKing Charles IV and his son Ferdinand VII, generated strong opposition in Spain and in America. There arose many groups of intellectuals arguing about issues of sovereignty and how to govern. In 1809Hill joined one of those secret societies, formed in Valladolid, whose aim was to assemble a congress to rule the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the name of King Ferdinand VII, who was then a prisoner ofNapoleon, and ultimately achieve independence.

The conspirators planned to take up arms against the viceroy of New Spain on October 1810, but were discovered in mid-September. Hidalgo and severalother conspirators escaped with thanks to the notice of Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez and moved to Queretaro, where he met Hidalgo Ignacio Allende.

The September 16, 1810, Hidalgo hoisted a banner with...