He was born on Ambato on June 28, 1832 and died in the same city on December 13, 1894. His father, Pedro Antonio Mera Gómez was a businessman while his mother Josefa Martínez Vásconez, raised her only son alone due to the fact that he abandoned her during her pregnancy.
His most emphasized works are the Ecuadorian National Hymn and the novel Cumandá (1879). Additionally in his political career he was a functionary of president Gabriel García Moreno. His infancy was humble while during his first years of life he lived at the “Los Molinos” country property, located in Ambato.
At the age of twenty he traveled to Quito to study painting with the noted pictural artist Antonio Salas, where he learned how to paint oil and watercolor.
At the age of 33, he and Antonio Neumane created the Ecuadorian National Hymn, "salve, Oh patria". Juan Leon Mera"s son José Trajano Mera (1862 – 1919) became a poet, playwright and diplomat, Political career He was the governor of Cotopaxi, Secretary of the Council of State, Senator, President of the Cámara del Senado and National Congress.
His former residence, the museo "Louisiana quinta de Juan León Mera", in the city of Ambato, exhibits his possessions.
Real Academia Española]
He founded the Ecuadorian Academy of language in 1874 and was a member of the Real Academia Española.
