Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez

Hello! My name is Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez. I was born on April 19th, 1773, in a place that was called New Spain. Today, you know this place as the beautiful country of Mexico. My parents passed away when I was just a little girl, so I grew up at a special school called the Colegio de las Vizcaínas. At school, I learned all about the world and dreamed that one day I could help other people and make a difference.

In 1791, when I was older, I married a kind man named Miguel Domínguez. He had a very important job in the city of Querétaro. He was the 'corregidor,' which is a little like being the mayor of the city. Because he was the Corregidor, many people started to call me 'La Corregidora,' and that nickname stayed with me for my whole life! My husband and I moved to Querétaro, and we had a big family. Our home became a place where many important things would happen.

During this time, the country of Spain, which was far across the ocean, ruled over Mexico. Many of us believed it was time for Mexico to be its own country and be free. Around the year 1810, my friends and I began to hold secret meetings right in my house. To keep our plan safe, we pretended we were having parties or reading books together. But we were really making a very brave plan for independence. Important leaders like Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende would come to my home to talk about how we could build a free Mexico for all its people.

One night, we found out that the Spanish government knew about our secret plan! My husband, Miguel, was worried and wanted to keep me safe, so he locked me in my room. But I knew I had to warn our friends before they were caught. I couldn't get out, so I used my shoe to tap on the floor. Tap, tap, tap! I hoped someone would hear. A friend who was downstairs heard my secret signal and understood what it meant. He jumped on his horse and rode as fast as he could to tell everyone our plan had been discovered. That important night was September 13th, 1810.

My warning helped my friends act quickly. Just a few days later, they called on the people to fight for freedom, and this started the Mexican War of Independence. For my part in the plan, I was sent to prison, but they could not break my spirit. After a long fight, Mexico finally won its freedom! I lived to be 55 years old. Today, people in Mexico remember me as La Corregidora, a woman who was brave enough to risk everything for her country. My story shows that the courage of just one person can help change the world.