Cabrera was born in Córdoba to an important local family.
He was educated at the Monserrat School and graduated in law at the University of San Carlos, both in Córdoba.
Cabrera was active in the revolutionary cause and became the city's head of government (alcalde) in 1811 on the first vote.
He was elected to represent Córdoba in the Tucumán Congress and served for the declaration in 1816. Along with his Córdoba colleagues, he was one of the few federalists in the Congress, speaking for a system of strong autonomous provinces [1][permanent dead link]. He was a supporter of the federalist José Gervasio Artigas and, along with Eduardo Pérez Bulnes, declined to follow the Congress to Buenos Aires, continuing to support Artigas' cause from Córdoba.
