The leader who led the Mexicans in the fight for independence from Spain was Miguel Hidalgo. He is best known for his role in the early stages of the Mexican War of Independence, beginning in 1810. On September 16, Hidalgo issued the "Grito de Dolores," a call to arms that mobilized the Mexican people against Spanish colonial rule. Though Hidalgo was eventually captured and executed in 1811, his actions ignited a movement that ultimately led to Mexico's independence in 1821, making him a national hero.