Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a Mexican priest who started Mexico's war of Independence against Spain. He was a professor at a Catholic School and served in a church in Colima. In 1810 he gave his famous speech called "The Cry of Dolores" as a message to the people to protect the interests of their king Fernado VII (who was held captive by Napoleon).
He marched across Mexico and gathered 90.000 poor farmers and civilians who attacked and killed both Spanish Peninsulares and Criollo elites, even though they were not trained and were poorly armed.