This Friday, June 16, as Jalisco marks 200 years since its founding, a huge celebration is planned in the Solidaridad Park in Tonala, located on the eastern fringe of the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
During the all-day festivities, the official name of the park will change to Parque General Luis Quintanar, in honor of the man who became the first de facto governor of Jalisco. But who was Quintanar, and why does the current state administration consider him to be such an important historical figure?
Born in 1772 in San Juan del Río, Querétaro, Quintanar was a soldier who fought on the side of Spain right up until Mexico achieved its independence in 1821, after which he pledged his allegiance to Agustín de Iturbide, who was crowned emperor of Mexico in May 1822. A few months later, Iturbide appointed Quintanar the political and military chief of the province of Guadalajara.
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