On April 10, 1789, Maria de la Soledad Leona Camila Vicario Fernández de San Salvador was born in Mexico City, who was commonly known as Leona Camila.
His parents were Gaspar Martín Vicario and Camila Fernández, and they were owners of a great patrimony, which facilitated Leona to receive a good education, studying various subjects, such as Fine Arts, excelling in painting. He also studied Science and Literature,
Shortly before reaching the age of majority, Leona loses her parents, leaving her uncle Agustín Pomposo Fernández de San Salvador, her mother’s brother, and that from that moment on he would be the executor of Leona’s fortune.
In the year 1810, Leona joined a secret group called “The Guadalupes”, Whose leaders were José María Morelos y Pavón and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. From that moment, Leona became one of the main activists and financial part of the insurgent cause.
In 1811, Leona meets Andrés Quintana Roo, with whom she falls in love, and asks her uncle to allow her to marry him, Agustín refusing, arguing that he is a poor person.
In the year 1812, Leona talks to some Spaniards from Euskalerría, which they called “The Biscayns “, to convince them to join the cause, and they agree. Together they go to Tialpujahua, where a central headquarters led by Ignacio López Rayón had already been installed.
From that moment on, cannons began to be manufactured, financed by the sale of Leona’s jewels and some goods.
In 1813, one of the insurgency’s messengers is intercepted and this causes Leona to flee, but when she tries to return to the capital, her uncle detains her and takes her to the school of Belén de las Mochas, where she immediately calls the authorities to arrest her.
She is tried by presenting various documents, and is subjected to an interrogation, during which she does not denounce any of her companions.
Leona pleaded guilty and was taken to prison and dispossessed of the assets that until then remained.
In 1813, Leona, along with other colleagues disguised as officers of the viceroyalty, they manage to fool the guard and flee to Michoacán, where Andrés Quintana was waiting for them, with whom he married a few days later.
During the following years Leona and Andrés become defenders of the insurgent cause from the Congress of Chipancigo.
Some time later, José María Morelos is captured and shortly after assassinated, so Leona and her husband decide to flee. From the capital, both are offered a pardon, which the marriage rejects at first.
Leona gives birth to her first daughter in 1817, and he names her Genoveva, and on March 14, 1818, Leona and Andrés, along with their daughter, were arrested in the State of Mexico. At that moment they decide to accept the pardon, thinking above all of their daughter.
Shortly after, their second daughter, Soledad, was born.
In 1823 Independence had already been consummated and the Congress of Mexico decides to return to Leona part of the assets that previously they had been confiscated. Part is returned to him in cash and another part with the ownership of various estates in Ocotepec and in the State of Mexico.
Leona continued her political and journalistic career until the day of her death, which takes place on August 21, 1842.
On August 25 of that same year, Leona is granted the post-mortem title of Meritorious and Sweet Mother of the Nation.