Hernan Cortes

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish adventurer and conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain.

Cortes sailed with 11 ships from Cuba to the Yucatan Peninsula to look for gold, silver, and other treasures. Cortés traveled inland and "discovered" Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire. He then killed the Aztec emperor Montezuma and conquered his Aztec Empire of Mexico, claiming all of Mexico for Spain in 1521. Treasures from the Aztecs were brought to Spain, and Cortés was a hero in his homeland. Cortés was appointed governor of the colony of New Spain.

William Lamport

Wiliam Lamport was born in 1615 in Wexford, Ireland to a Catholic family. He gained the nickname El Zorro for his emploits in Mexico. William was a prodigy born genius and by the age of fourteen, he spoke over fourteen different languages. Catholic teachers, from Dublin and London were the people who helped teach him new discoveries.

In 1627, when William was twelve years old, he was arrested in London for distributing Catholic Pamphlets. William escaped from jail and became a pirate until he was fourteen years old.

Did you Know...

Did you know that Mexico use to be called New Spain?

Did you know Mexico is the fourth largest country in the Western Hemisphere?

Did you know it is one fifth of the size of the United States, about 460,000 square miles?

Did you know the land has a variety of features, mountains, desert, rain forest, and beaches?

Map Of Mexico.

Mexico is located directly south of the Northwest and north of South America

Mexican Independence

In the early 1500s, Spanish conquistadors went to Mexico, over powering the local rulers, claiming the land for Spain, enslaving Indians, and taking what they could of Mexico's treasures. For over 300 years, Mexico was a part of Spain's empire.
When Mexico and Spain went to war Mexico started with 80,000 soldiers and ended with 65, 000 soldiers who were not killed nor wounded. Spain on the other hand started with 14, 000 and ended with 6, 000 soldiers.


For some historians, the struggle for Mexican Independence began in December 1650 when the Irishman William Lamport escaped from the jail of the Inquisition and posted his Proclamation of Independence around the city. This the first proclamation of independence in the New World, and the first ever to promise a democratically elected monarch, racial equality and land reform. Lamport wanted Mexico to break with Spain and gain independence on there own. Mexico waited another two centuries for independence after Lamport was captured and killed.