An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence

R W Hardy

Gender:Male

Ethnic origen: White

Events:

Connections:

Texts:
1829 - Travels in the Interior of Mexico in 1825, 1826, 1827, & 1828

Biography:
An English traveller who arrived in Veracruz in 1825. He was to work as a commissioner for the General Pearl and Coral Fishery Association of London from 7 May 1825 to 7 May 1828. He arrived in Mexico City with a letter of introduction for Messrs. Exter, Greaves, and Co. He then went on a tour of the country, leaving on 5 December 1825 for Guaymas, Sonora (via Valladolid). He was not a good traveller and feared robbery. He was interested in medicine and dabbled in "quackery" (his expression) and included accounts of the people he cured in the book of his exploits. He visited many indigenous tribes in Northern Mexico and included notes about the people and their customs. He had previously been to Argentina and mentions Buenos Aires and a journey to Patagonia. He met Joel Poinsett and Mora in Mexico City and attended political and cultural tertulias with them.


He had a letter of introduction to President Guadalupe Victoria and became friends with Joel Poinsett and Mr Ward, the English Chargé d’Affairs (Hardy).

H.G. Ward described him: “When I left Mexico, Lieutenant Hardy had not returned from the North. He is said to be wandering amongst the savage tribes of the Pimeria Alta, with whom he had contrived to establish friendly intercourse; and he will probably in this way acquire a knowledge of the country hitherto unexplored by any white. A taste for such adventure has always been a remarkable feature in this gentleman’s character. A few years ago, being out of employment, he took a passage on board a merchant-vessel to the vicinity of Tierra del Fuego, (near Cape Horn,) where he was landed amongst the Patagonians, with whom he remained a year and a half, before the arrival of another vessel enabled him to bring himself in communication again with the civilized world. It is supposed, however, that he is not influenced in his present excursion by mere curiosity, but a wish to investigate the mineral treasures of the Indian country, which are thought to be very great.” (Ward, 593-595)

References:

Hardy, R.W.H. (1829) Travels in the Interior of Mexico in 1825, 1826, 1827, &1828,
Ward, H. G. (1828) Mexico in 1827