Martín Francisco Javier Mina y Larrea

Mina studied Latin, mathematics, and humanities at the local seminary while living in Pamplona with his uncle and aunt, Clemente and Simona Espoz.

During the Peninsular War in early 1808, Spain was under occupation by French troops, prompting Mina to flee to the hills and forests of his native region.

[dubious – discuss] After a planned coup d'état against the king failed, Mina fled to France; from Bayona he traveled to England where he met Servando Teresa de Mier.

Servando Teresa de Mier recruited him to fight the absolute monarchy of Ferdinand VII in his colonies.

After arriving in Baltimore in the United States, Mina met with a group of Spanish American agents there to organize the expedition.

Manuel Torres, Miguel Santamaria and José Rafael Revenga helped organize funding from a group of Baltimore merchants, while Pedro Gual acted as his press agent.

In April 1817, Mina took a force of about 250 men southward in ships provided by the French privateer, Louis-Michel Aury.

On May 24, 1817, Mina left his base with 300 men, moving to several villages on his way to Fuerte del Sombrero, a fortification defended by Pedro Moreno.