Born: 8 September 1768, Mexico
Died: 2 March 1829
Country most active: Mexico
Also known as: María Josefa Crescencia Ortiz Téllez–Girón, La Corregidora
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
She was married to the Mayor of the City of Queretaro. A heroine of Mexican Independence born in the City of Mexico. She was left an orphan when a baby. One of her sisters took care of her. She attended college, but left in 1791 when she married the Mayor, Miguel Dominguez. Her intervention in the Cause of Independence was brilliant. Being married to the Mayor, she knew of all the movements made by the Spanish, and she gave the information to the heads of the Independence Cause. She also influenced her husband to embrace this Cause. It is known that her husband left on an official matter, and being afraid that she would give information to the Revolutionists, he had her locked in her room. Her chamber was directly above that of one occupied by a chief of the movement. She had previously agreed with him to communicate news through some special signal if necessary. She gave this signal, the officer went to the door of her room and through the key hole (it is kept as a relic in Queretaro) he received the order to leave immediately and inform Allende that the house where the arms and ammunition were kept was about to be searched by her husband. She was accused and was kept prisoner in the Convent of Santa Clara, and from there taken to Mexico City under guard. When she was about to leave the convent with the soldiers she said to them, “So many soldiers for a helpless woman, my blood will be patrimony for my sins.” At that time she was about to give birth to a child. She was taken to the Convent of Santa Catarina where she stayed for three years. To give an idea of her character we should mention, on one occasion she wrote to Hidalgo, General Chief of the Independence Movement, reproaching him for the bloody Battle of Granaditas. She refused the appointment given her of Lady of Honor to the Empress. She condemned President Victori because of the Spaniards that he had expelled from the country, and she refused to accept any compensation for the services that she gave to the cause for Liberty. This heroine died in the year 1829. Her remains were taken to the Convent of Santa Catarina, the place where she had been held prisoner. Her remains were finally interred at Queretaro. Congress declared her Benemerit. A statue that bears her name has been erected in one of the parks in Mexico City.