Juan Francisco Azcárate y Lezama (1767, Mexico City – January 31, 1831, Mexico City) was a lawyer, a Mexico City councilman, and a leader of the movement for Mexican independence from Spain. Azcárate y Ledesma, born in Mexico City, was a Criollo and a lawyer for rich clients. Shortly after obtaining his license to practice law, he became a lawyer at the Academia Teórico-Práctica de Jurisprudencia, and later its vice-president. In addition, he wrote poetry and prose, including: He died in 1831 in Mexico City.