TORIBIO RODRÍGUEZ DE MENDOZA

Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza

Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza was born April 15, 1750 in Chachapoyas. His parents were Santiago Rodríguez de Mendoza and Maria Josefa Collantes. He studied at the seminar Santo Toribio of Lima and in 1770 received his doctorate in theology at the University San Marcos. In 1778 was ordered priest.

From a very young became interested in the natural sciences and the new political ideas of the enlightenment. In the Decade of 1790 he joined the society of lovers of the country and participated in the publication of the magazine illustrated "Mercurio Peruano".

From 1771 he was Professor of the Real Convictorio de San Carlos and its Rector from 1785 to 1816. In recent years Rodriguez de Mendoza instilled in young people the ideals of the enlightenment and the reading of the Rationalist philosophers of the 18th century. It fostered critical thinking and political debate among his disciples, so repeatedly was accused of fomenting conspiracies against the King.

In 1821 he signed the Act of the independence of Peru and the following year he was elected Deputy of the first Constituent Congress. He died in Lima on June 12, 1825.