José Matías Delgado

Salvadoran rebel

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Jos\u00e9 Mat\u00edas Delgado was a key figure in El Salvador's push for independence from Spain. Facing economic hardship and resentment towards Guatemalan merchants, Salvadoran indigo planters, including Delgado, led an uprising in November 1811. Although Spanish authority was restored, a second uprising in 1814 occurred. In 1821, El Salvador declared independence, initially opposing incorporation into the Mexican empire. Delgado was later chosen as president of the Central American constitutional convention in 1823, which established the Federal Republic of Central America.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

cacos
… were such prominent Creoles as José Matías Delgado and Pedro Molina, liberals who demanded independence under a federalist anticlerical constitution. They were opposed by the more conservative gazistas, led by José Cecilio del Valle, who insisted upon protection for private property and gradual change but also advocated safeguarding political liberties.…
Read More
… were such prominent Creoles as José Matías Delgado and Pedro Molina, liberals who demanded independence under a federalist anticlerical constitution. They were opposed by the more conservative gazistas, led by José Cecilio del Valle, who insisted upon protection for private property and gradual change but also advocated safeguarding political liberties.…
Read More

El Salvador
Independence
…ignited an uprising led by José Matías Delgado, the provincial vicar of San Salvador, and his nephew Manuel José Arce. The rebels held the government for nearly a month before Spain’s authority was restored by the captain general of Guatemala, whose measures seemed more conciliatory than repressive. A second, shorter…
Read More
…ignited an uprising led by José Matías Delgado, the provincial vicar of San Salvador, and his nephew Manuel José Arce. The rebels held the government for nearly a month before Spain’s authority was restored by the captain general of Guatemala, whose measures seemed more conciliatory than repressive. A second, shorter…
Read More