1817 – Policarpa Salavarrieta (1795 – 14 November 1817), Seamstress and revolutionary spy during the Spanish Reconquista of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
The popular version is that she was born in the municipality of Guaduas, Cundinamarca, between 1790 and 1796. She worked as a seamstress, and is also believed to have worked as a teacher in a public school. During the war, Policarpa’s family were involved on the Revolutionary side: her brother-in-law, Domingo García, died fighting alongside Antonio Nariño in the Southern Campaign, in which her brother Bibiano also fought. In 1817, she actively participated in political issues. Policarpa secretly recruited young men to the Revolutionary cause; with her brother’ assistance. Together, they helped increase the number of soldiers the insurgency in Cundinamarca desperately needed. Policarpa Salavarrieta and her brother Bibiano were both arrested and taken to prison. They were taken to the Council of war and on November 10, Policarpa, and seven other prisoners were sentenced to execution by firing squad, set for the morning of November 14, 1817. |
1967 – The Congress of Colombia, in commemoration of the 150 years of the death of Policarpa Salavarrieta, declares this day as “Day of the Colombian Woman”. |
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