QUINTANA ROO, Andres, Mexican statesman, born in Merida, Yucatan, 30 November, 1787; died in Mexico, 15 April, 1851. He studied in the Seminary of San Ildefonso in his native city, was graduated in law, in 1808 went to Mexico to practise his profession, and soon attained to reputation. When Itidalgo rose against the Spanish dominion, Quintana took an active part in the cause of independence, and was forced to fly from the capital, but in different localities he published a patriotic paper, "Ilustrador Americano," and circulated it, notwithstanding the vigilance of the Spanish authorities. After the capture of Zitacuaro by the insurgents, he joined the governing junta there, and by their order published, on 16 September, 1812, a manifesto under the name of "Aniversario," which explained the principles of independence and related the events of the past two years. When the first Mexican congress assembled at Chilpancingo, 14 September, 1813, Quintana was elected vice president, and as such signed, in the absence of President Murguia, the first formal declaration of the independence of Mexico, 16 November, 1813. He followed the congress from place to place, and after the capture of Morelos, when that body was dissolved, he suffered from the persecution of the Spanish authorities. Afterward Hurbide appointed Quint ana judge of the supreme court, and, when the empire was overthrown, the latter established in 1823 the journal "El Federalista Mexicano," which soon became a leader of public opinion. He was several times deputy to congress and senator, won reputation as an orator, and in 1838 was appointed minister of the interior, he was one of the first to offer a voluntary contribution to aid the government in repelling the French invasion. Besides his journalistic labors and political pamphlets, Quintana wrote many patriotic odes and a translation in verse of the Psalms, but his poetical compositions have only been published in magazines.