Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo-Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor (8 May 1753 – 30 July 1811), more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, was a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.
As a priest, Miguel Hidalgo was assigned to a church in Dolores, Mexico. After his arrival, he was shocked by the poverty he found. He tried to help the poor by showing them how to grow olives and grapes, but in Mexico it was discouraged to grow those crops because of Spanish imports of the items. In 1810 he gave the famous speech, "The Cry of Dolores". As he then marched across Mexico, he gathered an army of nearly 90,000 poor farmers and Mexican civilians in his rebellion against Spanish rule. They attacked and killed Spanish soldiers in small groups along the way. But Hidalgo's army lacked training and was poorly armed. Eventually, Hidalgo's army ran into a clan of 6,000 Spanish troops which were well trained and armed. Much of Hidalgo's army fled or was killed. Hidalgo himself was later executed by a firing squad on July 30, 1811
Read more about Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla: Youth, Education and Ordination, As Parish Priest in Dolores, Grito De Dolores, Hidalgo's Army – From Celaya To Monte De Las Cruces, Retreat From Mexico City, Execution, Hidalgo's Legacy