He fought in several battles under the command of Marshal Antonio José de Sucre in the Southern Campaign and in the Gran Colombia–Peru War.

Coming from a wealthy family, he easily entered as a cadet in the White Militia Battalion of Maracaibo, where he began his military career.

[2] The Anglo–American brig Tiber, which was carrying the three deported Venezuelans from the Numancia Battalion, arrived in the city of Guayaquil with a stopover and remained there for several days.

[4] The forces of the Protective Division of Quito, led by the newcomers Urdaneta and Febres Cordero, achieved victory in the Battle of Camino Real (November 9), but suffered a serious defeat in the First Battle of Huachi (November 22) and they blamed Peruvian Major Hilario Álvarez [es] for their defeat, but after the trial he was later released from the charges and the responsibility for poor command fell on commanders Urdaneta and Febres Cordero.

By 1830, the Venezuelan general Juan José Flores began the separation of the Southern District of Gran Colombia, from which the State of Ecuador would later be born.

[2] After finishing his insurrection, General Flores provided him with an escort that would take him to Puná Island, and from there he sailed by sea to Panama City.