Quintana Roo was one of the most influential men in the Mexican War of Independence and served as a member of the Congress of Chilpancingo where he presided over the National Constituent Congress, which drafted the Mexican Declaration of Independence in 1813. He served multiple terms in the Chamber of Deputies, serving as its president twice. Quintana Roo also served as a member of the Mexican Supreme Court. He edited and founded many newspapers including "El Ilustrador Americano" (The American Illustrator) "El Semanario Patriótico Americano" (The American Patriot Weekly), and "El Federalista Mexicano" (The Mexican Federalist). The Mexican state of Quintana Roo was named in his honor.