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

Benito Gerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro

Gender:Male

Ethnic origen: White

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
An early 18th century Spanish Benedictine Monk who introduced Enlightenment ideas to Spain, discussed Mary Wollstonecraft, and spoke out against female inferiority. His Essay on Women, or Physiological and Historical Defence of the Fair Sex, was published in 1739. (Arrom, 16)

Humboldt found one of his essays in a Venezuelan convent. (Humboldt, 252)

His work was very popular in Latin America. In 1750 Fernando VI prohibited criticism of his work. Feijóo praised America and claimed that some of its achievements were better than those of Europe. (Rodríguez, 16, 37)

Leona Vicario was asked if she had one of his speeches during her trial in 1813. (García, 46)

References:

Arrom, Silvia Marina (1985) The women of Mexico City, 1790-1857
García, Genaro (1910) Documentos históricos mexicanos
Humboldt, Alexander Von (1852) Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America during the years 1799-1804. Volume: 1
Rodríguez O., Jaime E. (1998) The Independence of Spanish America