Sierra O'Reilly, Justo (1814–1861)

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Sierra O'Reilly, Justo (1814–1861)

Justo Sierra O'Reilly (b. 24 September 1814; d. 15 January 1861); Yucatecan jurist, journalist, novelist, and historian. The illegitimate son of a parish priest, Sierra grew up in Mérida and was educated first at the local seminary. Later he studied law in Mexico City (1838). After graduation he returned to Yucatán and practiced as a lawyer before turning to politics (serving as judge, ambassador, and congressman) and literary pursuits. He founded newspapers and wrote books on history and literature. He also composed fiction, his most famous novel probably being La hija del judío (The Jew's Daughter), a romance. He is the author of the Mexican republic's civil code (1860) and the father of Justo Sierra Méndez (1847–1912).

See alsoSierra Méndez, Justo .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mary Wilhelmine Williams, "Secessionist Diplomacy of Yucatán," in Hispanic American Historical Review 9, no. 2 (1929): 132-143; Enciclopedia yucatanense (1944), vol. 5, pp. 623-631, and vol. 7, pp. 205-244.

Additional Bibliography

Cortés Campos, Rocío Leticia. La novela histórica de Justo Sierra O'Reilly: La literatura y el poder. Mérida: Ediciones de la Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 2004.

Quirarte, Martín. Gabino Barreda, Justo Sierra y el Ateneo de la Juventud. México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Dirección General de Publicaciones, 1995.

                                       Robert W. Patch

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