Born on August 27, 1769 in the city of Quito.
Manuela distinguished herself for being an independent and visionary woman, for this reason when she moved to the parish house next to the church of El Sagrario, Manuela was already a well known enlightened lady who organized gatherings to discuss politics, literature, science, arts and also the gossip of the day. Men and women of Quito’s high society were regular visitors to such a beautiful house and its gracious hostess.
During the night of August 9, 1809, Manuela Cañizares became the hostess of a meeting for 38 guests, but in which the events for the proclamation of the Quiteño libertarian cry, which would take place in the early morning of the 10th, would be organized.
It was thus that on the night of August 9, 1809, in circumstances in which the Quiteño patriots had a moment of weakness that could have caused the revolutionary movement to fail, with unusual courage she became the spiritual heroine of the coup, standing with determination in front of them to harangue them with those words that made her the protagonist of history:
«Cowards…! Men of little faith, born for servitude… What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? There is no time to lose»!
A few weeks later, when Count Ruiz de Castilla regained power and the military repression took place, Manuela had to hide for some time in a hacienda in the Valle de los Chillos, while in the city the criminal proceedings against the rebels were instituted and the death penalty was also demanded for Cañizares.
When he was able to return to the city, he took refuge in the house of some friends, who lived in the San Roque neighborhood.
Historians summarize that he died months after making his will, on December 15, 1814.
José Dolores Monsalve points out that her death occurred while she was in asylum in the convent of Santa Clara de Quito, while other historians point out that she died while still in hiding in the Valle de los Chillos.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Reuni%C3%B3n_en_la_Casa_de_Manuela_Ca%C3%B1izares_(10_de_agosto,_1809).jpg
