José Mejía Lequerica (1775–1813) was a politician, doctor, orator, and lawyer born in Quito during the 18th century. He was famous for his outstanding participation in the Cortes of Cádiz as a deputy for the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
He stood out from a very young age for his dedication to study and prodigious mind. He went to university, but was denied the degree on account of being an illegitimate son. This was not the only obstacle that Mejía overcame, as his mother was also poor.
H3kt0r, from Wikimedia Commons
He enjoyed interacting with other intellectuals in the city, but finally decided to move away from Quito society, which always imposed obstacles on him because of his origin. Then Mejía moved to Spain, where he managed to be part of the Cortes of Cádiz.
From his position as a deputy, he advocated for the interests and rights of America, defended freedom of expression, while criticizing the excesses of the inquisition. In his interventions, which were highly acclaimed, he visualized events such as the fall of the Spanish empire.
He always held his homeland in high esteem and wished to one day return to the land where he was born, but circumstances did not allow it.
Biography
Early years
José Mejía Lequerica was born on May 24, 1775 in Quito, now Ecuador, but then part of the Spanish Empire. He was the natural son of Dr. José Mejía del Valle y Moreto with Manuela de Lequerica and Barrioleta.
Mejía's father was a reputable lawyer who served as Lieutenant Governor of Yaguachi and later in Guayaquil, where he also served as War Auditor and advisor. His last post in 1782 was as Senior Judge and General of the Estate of the Dead, but in 1790 he left his positions and died seven years later.
Manuela de Lequerica for her part was a married woman who was separated from her husband, Antonio Cerrajeria. That was the main reason why the parents of José Mejía Lequerica could not be married.
However, both lived together as a couple as they were in love with each other. The Quito society of the eighteenth century did not see this situation with good eyes and their reproaches regularly ended up affecting the young José for whom access to education was more difficult.
Also, as he had to grow up with his mother in poverty, the sacrifices they made for the young man to receive studies were great. However, the boy's prodigious mind made up for his mother's efforts.
Education
José Mejía Lequerica completed his basic studies at a public school in the city. Then, realizing the boy's potential, his mother sent him to the Dominican School of San Juan Fernando, where he studied Latin grammar under the tutelage of Fray Ignacio González.
Later he moved to the Major Seminary of San Luis. There he learned Philosophy with Fray Mariano Egas. He also delved into algebra, trigonometry, and physics, and met one of his mentors named Eugenio Espejo.
In 1792, at 16 years of age, Mejía Lequerica reached the bachelor's degree. Two years later he became a Master of Arts.
So, he got a scholarship to study Theology at the University of Santo Tomás de Aquino. Mejía studied with great sacrifice and, in addition, managed to begin to work as a teacher of Latinidad de Menores or Grammar de Minimos at the Colegio de San Luis.
At Dr. Espejo's house, Mejía met many Quito intellectuals, such as Juan Pío Montúfar. Likewise, he became friends with the sister of his mentor, Manuela Espejo.
Due to political circumstances, in 1795 Eugenio Espejo was arrested and later died. On June 29, 1796, José Mejía y Lequerica married Manuela Espejo, who was 23 years older than him. The following month he passed his theology exam and then began law studies.
Conflicts and travel
The university refused to recognize his degree since he was married, as well as being a natural child. This conflict, with social origins, was decided in favor of Mejía by the University of San Marcos de Lima, in Peru.
Then they gave him some chairs in different educational institutions. But his detractors continued to attack him, pointing out then that he could not receive the degree of lawyer since he was not a legitimate son, after this he had to leave his teaching position.
He became interested in natural sciences and when trying to obtain his title as a doctor he was also blocked, finally he gave up and decided to go to the invitation that José Manuel Matheus made him to visit him in Spain.
Courts of Cádiz
Upon arriving in Spain, he briefly got a job in a hospital and almost immediately, after the Napoleonic invasion, Joseph I Bonaparte ascended to the throne. Then, in 1808 José Mejía Lequerica enlisted as a volunteer, and thus he was awarded his medical degree.
Mejía Lequerica had gifts of oratory and he demonstrated them in his term as a deputy. His participation in the Courts was key, since he defended the rights of the American states and demanded equal representation.
He watched over the guarantee of freedom of expression and free printing, as well as the suppression of vassalage and lordships, and the removal of officials who had already served their time in the destination to which they were assigned.
He denounced murders against heroes, in addition, defended the Indians and criticized the actions of the inquisition. José Mejía Lequerica also fought against the imposition of taxes for the natives and the obligatory nature of the tithe.
Death
José Mejía Lequeríca died on October 27, 1813 in Cádiz, Spain. He was 38 years old, he was one of the victims of a yellow fever epidemic.
His remains, which rested in the cemetery of the Church of San José Outside the Walls, were lost in 1814 when they were transferred to a common grave in the Municipal Cemetery.
Plays
José Mejía Lequeríca wrote treatises on various topics that were unpublished and undated, but his main contribution was in the Cortes of Cádiz, where he stood out among the deputies of the Americas. At this time he collaborated with local media such as La abeja española and La triple alliance.
Known jobs
- Treatises on the books of Maccabees.
- Conclusions on botanical and physical studies.
- Treaty of philosophy.
- Studies on physical, natural and geographical subjects.
- Poetic antics.
- Speeches in the Cortes of Cádiz (1913), compiled by Alfredo Flores y Caamaño.
- Speech by José Mejía in the Spanish Courts (1909), El Vigilante.
References
- Avilés Pino, E. (2018). Dr. José Mejía Lequerica - Historical Characters - Encyclopedia Del Ecuador. Encyclopedia Of Ecuador. Available at: encyclopediadelecuador.com.
- Pérez Pimentel, R. (2018). JOSÉ MEJIA LEQUERICA. Biographical Dictionary of Ecuador. Available at:biograficoecuador.com dictionary.
- Bdh.bne.es. (2018). Poetic mischiefs first essay by Mr. José Mexía del Valle y Lequerica - Mejía Lequerica, José - Manuscript - between 1801 and 1900. Available at: bdh.bne.es.
- Paladines Escudero, C. (1991). Meaning and trajectory of Ecuadorian thought. Mexico: National Autonomous University of Mexico, pp.61 - 63.
- The Telegraph. (2018). José Mejía Lequerica, for many, an illustrious unknown. Available at: eltelegrafo.com.ec.
- Mejía Lequerica, J. and Flores y Caamaño, A. (1913). Don José Mejía Lequerica in the Cortes of Cádiz from 1810 to 1813. Barcelona: Maucci Publishing House.