Tejano History
Herrera, Simon De
Tejanos |
HERRERA, SIMÓN DE (1754–1813). Simón de Herrera was born at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, in 1754. He joined the Guimar Militia as sublieutenant on September 12, 1763, and was promoted to captain of militia on August 2, 1769. He transferred to the Zamora Infantry Regiment with the rank of sublieutenant on August 4, 1775. He was promoted through the ranks to lieutenant colonel in 1795. He served in the government of Colotlán, west of Aguascalientes, Mexico, and as commandant of the militia of New Galicia. He formed the Provincial Regiment of Guadalajara with battalions from Tepic, Bolaños, and several frontier companies and commanded it from February 9, 1788, until June 21, 1794. He was then promoted to the government of the province of Nuevo León, where he served as captain of the Lancer Company of Punta de Lampasas and commander of the provincial militia. Among his military actions was an expedition to South America in 1776 and the siege and capture of Portuguese colonies on the island of Santa Catalina, Puntagrosa, Santa Cruz, Ratones, and the fortified port of Feligrecia de San Antonio. He participated in the siege of Montevideo before returning to Spain to join in the blockade of Gibraltar until November 10, 1781. He returned to America with the Army of Operations and fought under the command of Bernardo de Gálvez at Guarico from February 10, 1782, until July 23, 1783. He then served as special courier of dispatches to Spain and France. After returning to Mexico, he formed a plan of the missions of Nayarit and Galicia, and by 1797 was ready to lead his provincial militia against 200 marauding Apaches and Comanches, an expedition that was singularly successful. He married an English lady at Cádiz and was well acquainted with George Washington and the intricate government of the United States. He was accused, along with his brother Pedro, who was left in command at Monterrey when Simón went to Texas, of extorting money from ranchers in lieu of their serving on the frontier.
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Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online
Courtesy of the Texas State Historical Association.
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