Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Alcocer, Vidal

ALCOCER, Vidal, Mexican philanthropist, b. in the city of Mexico, 8 April, 1801 ; d. there 22 Nov., 1800. When very young he worked as a bookbinder, and then as a gunsmith, until he entered the army. He fought in the war of independence, at the end of which he retired, but afterward took part in the organization of troops for the war against the French, and then as a soldier in operations to defend his native city from the American army. His chief aim in life was to promote education among destitute children, in pursuit of which he organized, in 1846, an association which, in August, 1853, had established twenty schools for poor children in the city of Mexico, and from 1854 to 1858 the number of these schools was increased to thirty-three, with 7.000 boys and girls receiving a good elementary education.