Miranda y Rodríguez , Sebastián Francisco de (1750–1816)

Abstract

Often called the precursor of Latin American independence, Francisco de Miranda grew up in Caracas. At the age of 14 he entered the Royal and Pontifical University, claiming to have received a bachelor's degree in 1767 although there is no official record that he ever graduated. In 1772 Miranda's father purchased a junior commission for him in the Princess's Infantry Regiment in Spain. He was inducted into the forces and sent to a frontier garrison in Melilla, North Africa. Unlike many of his peers, Miranda had a healthy respect for his Moorish opponents, even sympathy for their efforts to oust a foreign presence from their land. He took the time to read the Quran and continuously offered unsolicited advice and criticism to his superior officers. In 1774 Miranda applied to join Alejandro O'Reilly's corps that was destined for Spanish America, but he was refused. Three years later, however, he was jailed in Cádiz for disobedience and confined again the next year for insubordination. He was transferred to the Regiment of Aragón and sailed for Havana in April 1780 as a supernumerary officer.

A Latin American Casanova? Sex, Gender, Enlightenment and Revolution in the Life and Writings of Francisco de Miranda (1750–1816)

“…However, his embracement of certain sexual liberties cannot be considered just a consequence of his commitment to freedom of thought, as the former at least was, quite obviously, both elitist and strongly gendered. 37 His pride on 'acting with liberality in matters of love and particularly as far as sex is concerned' is rooted in aristocratic ethics with Enlightened undertones, meaning that he deems it discourteous to quarrel with another man over the services of prostitutes. 38 This chimes with his efforts to be seen as a gentleman, his insensitive dealings with servants, and the fact that he held back from promoting democracy in his political campaigning.…”

“…73 It seems marriage did not prevent Miranda from continuing to conduct affairs with distinguished and publicly active women, such as Leonora Sansay in New York and possibly, as has been inconclusively suggested, Lady Hester Stanhope in Britain. 74 Little is known about Sarah Andrews. In the two wills he signed in London, on 1 August 1805 and 2 October 1810, respectively (before embarking on his hazardous Latin American expeditions), Miranda calls her, revealingly, 'my loyal housekeeper'.…”