He was born in Tlalpujahua, Michoacán in 1773. He studied at the Nicolaita University and later received his law degree from the Colegio de San Ildefonso.
Upon the death of his father, he returned to his homeland to work in the mines. A supporter of the independence movement formulates a plan to avoid wasting the resources obtained for the insurgent cause. He joined the troops as secretary of the priest Hidalgo in Maravatío.
He proposes the creation of a governing board and in Guadalajara promotes the publication of The American Despertador. He is present in the battles of Monte de las Cruces, Aculco and Puente de Calderón where he manages to save 300 thousand pesos of the army's resources. He accompanied Hidalgo and the main caudillos to the north of the territory, he was appointed chief of the army in Saltillo and after the betrayal of Acatita de Baján he marched to Zacatecas to continue the fight.
He defeated the royalist troops and returned to Zitácuaro, Michoacán to organize the American National Supreme Court (August 1811), remaining as President and appointing Sixto Verduzco and José María Liceaga as members. It issues laws, regulations and proclamations, but in 1812 it left the square before the siege of Calleja. Despite his differences with the other members of the board, he is part of the Constituent Congress installed by José María Morelos in 1812.
A year later, in the company of his brother Ramón, he moved the congress to Cóparo, Michoacán. He is declared a traitor for refusing to recognize the board established by Agustín de Iturbide. After capitulating honorably, he was arrested by Nicolás Bravo and handed over to the royalists. He is sentenced to death although he is not executed, but remains in prison until 1820 when he is released with other political prisoners. Later he occupies several positions of importance in the government reaching the rank of Major General. He retired to Tacuba where he resided until his death in 1832.
