Rafaela de Herrera y Torreynosa was born in Cartagena de Indias, Viceroyalty of New Granda, Spanish Empire back in 1742 to Jośe and Felipa. Her father was a captain of artillery in command of the Castillo de San Sabasián del Pastelillo (those are spelled correctly). Bringing up his daughter he taught her early on the principles of honor, faith and patriotism.
In 1753, he was now in command of the garrison at the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on the San Juan River, in Nicaragua. In July of 1762, her father lay mortally ill. The fortress was about 100 strong, when the British started attacking. The British force was around two thousand men and more than fifty boats. She made a solemn oath to her father that she would defend the fortress at the cost of her own life.
To make a very long story short, she took command of the troops at the fortress and defended it against the British invasion. Her first volley from the cannon killed the British Commander. Needless to say, this encouraged the troops at the fortress. They successfully defended it and defeated the British, forcing them to withdraw.
Afterwards she was awarded a pension for her life as a reward for her heroic actions. She is considered a national heroine of Nicaragua.
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