Source: http://www.sanmiguelguide.com/ignacio-allende.htm
José Ignacio Allende and Unzaga was born in San Miguel el Grande (now San Miguel de Allende) on January 21, 1769, the son of a wealthy merchant and a Spanish lady of the leading families of San Miguel. During his childhood he enjoyed all the amenities. The man was handsome, strong, very good rider and courageous.
Then he took the arms path. He won his first ascents in Texas under the direction of Felix María Calleja. In 1806 he was already captain when there was an encampment at Jalapa, where he adopted the doctrines in favor of independence.
In 1808 he returned to San Miguel where he was in charge of a cavalry regiment that was called the Queen’s Dragons.
In 1809 he participated in a conspiracy in Valladolid, but was not punished when the conspiracy was discovered.
He continued plotting and formed a junta in San Miguel to promote independence, besides, he attended the meetings that were organized by the corregidors and Miguel Dominguez and his wife Josefa Ortiz for the same purpose. During these meetings, a revolt was planned which was to be led by Allende and Juan Aldama, who sought the help of Don Miguel Hidalgo in order to obtain the support of the people.
On September 6, 1810, at two in the morning, they learned that the Querétaro conspiracy had been discovered, and there were orders to arrest them. At that moment, Allende proposed mentioning all those who were committed to fighting for freedom so that each city was given the voice of Independence. But Hidalgo convinced him that they should launch the struggle immediately. The leader of the struggle was Hidalgo because he had influence over the people. It was then when Miguel Hidalgo took up in arms with the people of his town in Dolores. There they apprehended the Spanish that lived in Dolores, and decided to go back to San Miguel in order to obtain the regiment of the Queen’s Dragons. This could give the movement well organized troops. Allende always stood for order and security of people, those arrested he swore that no harm would be done to them nor their family, they were only to be arrested.
On September 22, ameeting of insurgent leaders in Celaya appointed Hidalgo captain-general, and Allende, lieutenant-general. Five days later, the viceroy offered 10,000 pesos to hand over Hidalgo, Allende and Aldama dead or alive. On the 28th they occupied the city of Guanajuato and took the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. In Acambaro, to approximately 80,000 men, Hidalgo was proclaimed Generalissimo and Allende, Captain General. After that insurgents clashed with the royalists in Las Cruces, triumphing the insurgents. Allende proposed to march and take the city of Mexico, as he felt that the capture of the capital city would mean a lot to the fight, but was not satisfied and ordered to retreat, later they were defeated in Aculco.
Allende separated from Hidalgo and returned to Guanajuato, he put the city in a posture of defense because there he stored provisions in case of a long siege, manufactured guns, made holes in some hills and filled them with gunpowder so that they would explode when the royal army passed. In several letters he asked for assistance from Hidalgo, who was then in Valladolid, and other insurgents; but Hidalgo did not help. As soon as Calleja arrived at Guanajuato at the command of the royalists, he took the leading positions and Allende had to leave the city and march to Guadalajara where Hidalgo was.
As there were many differences between Hidalgo and Allende, the latter decided to pursue only the organization of the army. During a battle at the Bridge of Calderón, Allende, once again, showed his military skills; but the explosion of an ammunition truck of the insurgents facilitated the victory of the enemy.
Since the increased discord between the leaders, senior officers of the I surgent army demanded Hidalgo his resignation. So Allende was named generalissimo and ordered a retreat to Saltillo, from there march to the United States to get arms and money to fight again.
In March 1811 the leaders of the Independence were captured by a betrayal of Ignacio Elizondo in Acatita de Baján. Allende was the only one who resisted and fought until the end. The prisoners were taken to Chihuahua where they were processed, were in confinement and chained.
During his trial Allende behaved very politely, but seeing that the judge treated him scornfully, broke the handcuffs and with the hanging piece hit with a heavy blow the judge’s head. He was sentenced to death, on June 26,1811, he was shot and later beheaded.
His head was hung in one corner of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in the city of Guanajuato, as well as of the other heroes: Hidalgo, Aldama and José Mariano Jiménez. His remains were buried there until March 1821. Now they rest in the crypt of the Column of Independence in Mexico City.
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