reading the Latin classics. The Alaman family was wealthy and socially prominent through Alamán's early youth, but mining was an uncertain and volatile industry, and his father eventually suffered financial losses and died when Alamán was sixteen. Mexican War of Independence It was at this time that Alaman would witness decisive historical events that would forever change the future of Mexico. In 1808, the Spanish king Ferdinand VII was deposed by Napoleon who replaced him with his brother Joseph Bonaparte, sparking a constitutional crisis throughout the Spanish Empire, as rejection of the new king was almost universal. The government of New Spain chose to remain loyal to the imprisoned Ferdinand, but an uprising against the Spanish was triggered by the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16, 1810, a date which would eventually be commemorated as the Mexican Independence Day He witnessed the sack of Guanajuato after the capture of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in the early stages of the Mexican War of Independence during which the unorganized and ragged troops of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla killed those taking refuge inside.<ref>Lucas Alamán, "Autobiografía de D. Lucas Alamán" in Lucás Alamán Obras de D. Lucas Alamán: Documents diversos (inéditos y my raros). Ed. Rafael Aguay Specer. Mexico City: Editorial Jus, 1945–47, 4:14.</ref> Alaman fled with his family to Mexico City in December, 1810. At Mexico City he continued his studies in mining. He studied chemistry, minerology, calculus, and crystallography. It was amidst his discussions with the well travelled faculty that he also began to desire to travel to Europe where he wished to perfect his French and learn Italian and English. Travels Through Europe He departed on January, 1814 and first arrived at Spain where he visited Madrid and the Royal Palace of the El Escorial. He then passed on to France where he arrived in Paris and visited Father Mier on whose recommendation Alaman was able to meet with Bishop Gregoire. He continued his studies in Paris under René Just Haüy, Jean-Baptiste Biot, and Louis Jacques Thénard, and attended late night sessions of the Atheneum where he also began to learn German. Alaman was present in Paris during Napoleon’s return from Elba, during the Hundred Days, with Alaman leaving the country shortly afterward for a brief sojourn in Great Britain before returning to France. He next traveled to Italy, passing by Mont Cenis, and arriving in Turin. He visited