He studied and worked with Francisco José de Caldas on the defense plans for Antioquia from the royalist’s Reconquista.

Mejía faced Sámano in the Battle of Cuchilla del Tambo which culminated with the defeat of the patriots on June 29.

[7] Mejía escaped to La Plata where he ceded his presidential powers to Custodio García Rovira, thus assuming the vice presidency as first intended.

The Spanish army, this time at the command of Carlos Toirá, caught up to colonel Mejía in La Plata.

[8] Made prisoner of war, he was transferred to Bogotá, where on September 3, 1816, Mejía, was executed for treason under orders of Pablo Morillo and Juan Sámano, along with other founding fathers, who later became known collectively as the Martyrs of Independence.