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

Fray Camilo Henríquez

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Printing press

Tertulia

Printing Press

Printing Press

Gender:Male

Ethnic origen: White

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
Born in Valdivia, Chile, on 20 July 1769. He studied in Lima and became a monk there. He was an orthodox Catholic who fervently supported the independence cause. By around 1809 he had been charged three times by the Inquisition of possessing prohibited books, and of reading French philosophers. In 1803 it was proven that he'd read Rousseau's Social Contract and was a supporter of Voltaire. He fled to Quito. He died in 1825. (Silva Castro, 15-28) He read Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu. (Montes, Orlandi, 44)

He founded the newspaper Aurora de Chile in 1812, it was supported by the junta of the day, José Miguel Carrera, Cerda and Manso. The paper ended without warning on 1 April 1813. 5 days later, another publication from the same press with the name El Monitor Auraucano appeared. (Silva Castro, 19-20)

Grez claims that through the Aurora de Chile he was a great influence on women during the independence struggles. His writings were published in London in June 1811. He attended Luisa Recabarren's tertulias, where Grez claims he was a dominant figure. His animated, fertile conversation pleased everyone. (Grez, 51, 63)

He is listed among the exiles in Cuyo. (Guerrero Lira, 297-299)

In July 1814 a junta took power, led by José Miguel Carrera, Urivi and Muñoz Urzúa. Fray Camilo Hernández took refuge in the Convent of the Recolección Dominicana. He was replaced as editor of El Monitor Araucano. (Silva Castro, 37) He went into exile in Buenos Aires where he studied mathematics and medicine. He edited La Gaceta de Buenos Aires from April to November 1815, and then El Censor (Buenos Aires) until July 1818. He also wrote 2 dramas as he believed that the theatre must be a school of politics, and the voice of philosophy. He wrote Camila o la patriota de Sud América, which was published in Buenos Aires in 1817 and La Inocencia en el asilo de las virtudes. (Silva Castro, 20 -23.)

His work reveals evidence of enlightenment ideas. (Griffin, 248)

He justified independence in a sermon made in Peru on 4 July 1811. He went to Buenos Aires after the defeat of Rancagua. (Coester, 50-52)

He was among the 28 members of La Sociedad de Buen Gusto, Buenos Aires, that had its first meeting in July 1817. It was founded to perform dramas. His play Camila o la patriota de Sud América was performed by the group. It is the story of Camila whose family were captured by an Indian chief after the patriots´ defeat in Quito. The chief insists that she marry his prime minister. Camila refuses out of respect for the memory of her husband Diego, who was killed by the Spaniards. The chief insists on the marriage and when the prime minister appears he is no other than Diego. Coester states the play reveals much about Henríquez's religious tolerance and his ideas of education. (Coester, 58-59)

References:

Lynch, John (editor). (1994) Latin American Revolutions
Coester, Alfred (1919) The Literary History of Spanish America
Grez, Vicente (1966) Las mujeres de la independencia
Guerrero Lira, Cristian (2002) La contrarevolución de la independencia en Chile
Montes, Hugo and Orlandi, Julio (1969) Historia y antología de la literatura chilena
Silva Castro, Raul (1958) Prensa y periodismo en Chile (1812-1956)