Famous O'Briens in History

El Zorro

NEWSPAPER and CREDITS: "El Universal" -Mexico City, Saturday June 05, 1999, "Nuestro Mundo" section. Article entitled "Unknown Facts about a Personnage: "El Zorro". Article written by the editor of the section, Enrique Castillo-Pesado.

Italian newspaper La Republica and the Spanish newspaper La Verdad. It seems Zorro's popular fame arose from his legendary deeds remembered in Mexico long after his death.   In the 19th century, the Mexican general, Vincent Palace Rivera, wrote a popular novel Memories of an Imposter, from research in the archives of the Inquisition. An American journalist picked this up in 1912, who produced the first Hollywood-style film script.

But, as it usually is in life, the reality is much more interesting than the fiction. Recent research by an Italian historian, Fabio Troncarelli - an expert on the Inquisition and witchcraft - points to Zorro being Irish and a spy for the Spanish government of the time. He was born William Lamport, probably in Wexford in 1615 of a noble family, educated in Dublin and London. After early adventures with a group of pirates, he found his way to Madrid, finding favor with the Spanish court and its minister Count Duke of Olivares.   Lamport was "hispanixed" as Gullien Lombardo and eventually left Madrid, commissioned by Olivares as a spy in Mexico-on his heels, an angry young lady's father.

By day he was a respectable Latin teacher, engaged to Antonia Turcious, the daughter of a noble family. By night, he was a spy, a student of Indian witchcraft, astrologer, and lover to the most distinguished ladies of Mexico City. He was ultimately imprisoned, suspected of planning an insurrection. After many years, Lamport/Lombardo escaped and for 7 years established, in earnest, his legendary reputation as "the Fox", El Zorro.

Finally justice caught up with him. He was tried, captured, and condemned to die at the stake. But, even then, he cheated his executioners, by strangling himself with the rope that tied him to the stake before his executioners could light the fire. He died in 1659, and the legend was born. According to Professor Troncarelli, Zorro, in fact, 'he was a red-bearded Irish nobleman with flashing eyes, he had "a certain Celtic air" about him, a social conscience and a weakness for women.'