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ILLUSTRIOUS PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE

 

DR. RAMON EMETERIO BETANCES

 

He was born in Cabo Rojo, P.R., was the main leader of the "El Grito de Lares" revolution and as such, he is considered by historians to be the father of the Puerto Rican Independence movement.  In 1846 he obtained his Bachelors Degree and he then proceeded to study medicine in Paris.  In 1853, he graduated with the titles of Doctor in Medicine and Surgeon.  When returned to Puerto Rico, one of the first things that he did was to establish a hospital in Mayaguez.  He work hard to save many Puerto Ricans from the ravages of the cholera epidemic of 1856.  He believed in the abolition of slavery and founded a clandestine organization called "The Secret Abolitionist Society".
Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram%C3%B3n_Emeterio_Betances

 

Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram%C3%B3n_Emeterio_Betances

 

MATHIAS  BRUGMAN

 

He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a leader in Puerto Rico's Independence Revolution against Spain, known as "El Grito de Lares".  Brugman's father was Pierre Brugman, from Chicago of Dutch ancestry and his mother, Isabel Duliebre from Puerto Rico.  He was raised and educated in Louisiana.  He moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico with his family after the United States purchased that region from the French.  Like many other Puerto Ricans at that time, he resented the political injustices practiced by Spain in the island.  This led him to become a believer in the cause of the Puerto Rican Independence movement.  He admired Ramón Emeterio Betances and Segundo Ruiz Belvis.  It was this admiration which inspired him to become and outspoken advocate for independence.  Eventually he befriended Manuel Rojas and his brother, Miguel and joined them in the conspiracy to revolt against Spain.  He openeed a Colmado (Grocery Store) that he used it as his headquarters and its code name was "Capa Prieto".  Manuel Rojas committee in Lares was code named "Centro Bravo".
Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheus_Brugman

 

Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheus_Brugman

 

MARIANA BRACETTI

 

She was born in Añasco, P.R., was a patriotic firm believer in the Independence of Puerto Rico.  She always was willing to fight for her ideals.  She was a believer in women's rights and showed it by her participation in Puerto Rico's first revolution.  She was married for the second time with Miguel Rojas, a rich businessmen who lived in Añasco and who together with his brother Manuel owned a coffee plantation called "El Triunfo" which was to become the clandestine nucleos of the revolution that would be known as "El Grito de Lares".  Betances instructed her to knit a flag for the revolution using the colors of the Dominican Republic.
Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Bracetti

 

Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Bracetti

 

MANUEL ROJAS

 

He was born in Caracas, Venezuela from a Puerto Rican father and a venezuelan mother.  He was one of the main leaders of the "Grito de Lares" uprising against the Spanish colonial government in 1868.  The Rojas family moved to Puerto Rico and settled down, close to the town of Lares.  He grew up in a region which was montainous and whose main income came from the coffee crop.  His brother Miguel meet Mariana Bracetti, whom he was to marry, while on a trip to Añasco.
Reference:  Wikepedia: en.wikipedia.org/wki/Manuel_Rojas

 

Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Rojas

 

LOLA RODRIGUEZ DE TIO

 

She was born in San Germán, P.R., where she received her primary education.  Her schooling continued at home where various intellectuals and politicians often met.  In 1868, inspired by the call for Puerto Rican Independence known as the "Grito de Lares", she wrote patriotic lyrics to the tune of "La Borinqueña".  The song became very popular, but brought her into conflict with Spanish authorities.  In 1876 her family moved to Mayaguez, where she published her first book of poetry, "Mis Cabtares" which sold 2,500 copies.  In 1877 the family fled to Venezuela where they met Eugenio María de Hostos.  Upon their return to Puerto Rico, she and her husband founded the magazine "La Almojábana".  They were exiled again in 1887, returning first to Venezuela and then to Cuba.  Once in Havana, their home became a gathering point for politicians and intellectuals as well as exiled Puerto Ricans.  Since her death she has been recognized for her suggestion that Puerto Ricans use the Cuban flag with its colors reversed as the model for their own standard.
Reference:   www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/lola.html

 

Reference:  www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/lola.html

 

LA BORINQUEÑA
www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/lola.html

Lola Rodríguez De Tió

¡Despierta, borinqueño
que han dado la señal!
¡Despierta de ese sueño
que es hora de luchar!

A ese llamar patriótico
¿no arde tu corazón?
¡Ven! Nos será simpático
el ruido del cañón.

Mira, ya el cubano
libre será;
le dará el machete
su libertad...
le dará el machete
su libertad.

Ya el tambor guerrero
dice en su son,
que es la manigua el sitio,
el sitio de la reunión,
de la reunión...
de la reunión.

El Grito de Lares
se ha de repetir,
y entonces sabremos
vencer o morir.

Bellísima Borinquen,
a Cuba hay que seguir;
tu tienes bravos hijos
que quieren combatir.

Ya por más tiempo impávido
no podemos estar,
ya no queremos, tímidos
dejarnos subyugar.

Nosotros queremos
ser libre ya,
y nuestro machete
afilado está..
y nuestro machete
afilado esta.

 

SEGUNDO RUIZ BELVIS

 

He was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, was dedicated abolitionist who also fought for Puerto Rico's right to independence.  Belvis received hs primary schooling in Aguadilla.  He graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of Caracas of Venezuela.  He also obtained his law degree from the Central University of Madrid in Spain.  In 1859 he returned to Puerto Rico and took up the cause of abolitionism in the island.  The first thing he did was to free the slaves in his hacienda.  He then befriended Ramón Emeterio Betances and joined "The Secret Abolitionist Society" founded by Betances.  Belvis eventually ended up in New York, where together with Betances and other patriots formed the "Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico (Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico) for the independence of Puerto Rico.  An outcome from this venture was the plans of sending an armed expedition to Puerto Rico in what was to become known as the "Grito de Lares".  During this time he became ill, but this did not keep him from traveling to the City of Valparaíso, Chile with the intention of obtaining financial aid for the planned revolution.  Belvis died in Chile and never knew that the "Grito de Lares" failed.  He did not live to see his dream come true, the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico on March 22, 1873.
Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segundo_Ruiz_Belvis

Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segundo_Ruiz_Belvis   EUGENIO MARIA DE HOSTOS   He was born in the Barrio "Río Cañas" of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, known as "El Ciudadano de las Américas" (The Citizen of the Américas), was a Puerto Rican educator and independence advocate.  At a young age his family sent him to San Juan, where he received his elementary education in the Liceo de San Juan.  In 1852, his family then sent him to Bilbao, Spain, where he graduated from the Institute of Secondary Education (high school).  After he graduaated, he enrolled and attended the Central University of Madrid.  He studied law, philosophy and letters.  When Spain adopted its new constitution in 1869 and refused to grant Puerto Rico its independence, Hostos left and went to the United States.  In the U. S. he joined the Cuban Revolutionary Committee and became called "La Revolución".  He believed in the creation of an Antillano Confederation between Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.  This idea was embraced by fellow Puerto Ricans Ramón Emeterio Betances and Segundo Ruiz Belvis.  One of the things that disappointed Hostos was that he realized that in Puerto Rico and in Cuba there were many people who wanted their independence from Spain, but who did not embrace the idea of becoming revolutionist.  Instead they preferred to be annexed by the United States. Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenio_María_de_Hostos   Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenio_Maria_de_Hostos   PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS   He was the son of Alejandro Albizu and Juana Campos.  He was also the nephew of Juan Morel Campos, one of Puerto Rico's greatest composers of danzas.  Albizu was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and avid advocate of Puerto Rican independence from the United States by what ever means necessary.  Albizu felt that Puerto Rico deserved the same right as the United States and other countries had to fight for independence.  In 1912, Pedro was awarded a scholarship to study Engineering specializing in Chemistry at the University of Vermont.  In 1913 he continued his studies at Harvard University.  At the outbreak of World War I, Pedro volunteered in the United States Infantry. He was trained by the French Military mission and served under General Frank McInty where he was assigned to an African-American unit and was discharged as a First Lieutenant.  During this time he was exposed to the racism of the day which left a mark in his beliefs towards the relationship of Puerto Ricans and the United States.  In 1919 he returned to Harvard University and was elected president of Harvard's Cosmopolitan Club.  He graduated from Harvard University obtaining a Law dregree as well as degrees in Literature, Philosophy, Chemical Engineering and Military Science.  He was fluent in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and Greek.  In 1922, he married Dr. Laura Meneses, a peruvian whom he had met at Harvard University.  In 1924 he joined the Puerto Rican Nationalists Party and was elected vice-president.  While in prison, Pedro Albizu Campos' health deteriorated.  In 1956, he suffers a stroke in prison and was transferred to San Juan's Presbyterian Hospital under police guard.  He alleged officials suggested that he was insane although others who attended believe that burns on his skin where consistent with variation exposure.  He was pardoned by outgoing governor Luis Muñoz Marín.  He died on April 21, 1965. Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Albizu_Campos     Reference:  Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Albizu_Campos   JULIA DE BURGOS Julia De Burgos, the best known female poet in Puerto Rico and one of the best Latino América, was born on February 17th, 1917 in Carolina, Puerto Rico.  De Burgos graduated from the University of Puerto Rico as a Teacher.  She also studied in Havana and later  moved to New York.  At age of nineteen her first verses were published.  Her best-known poem is "Río Grande de Loíza".  De Burgos published several books including:  "Poemas Exactos de mí Misma", "Poemas en Veinte Zurcos" and "Canción de la Verdad Sencilla".  She received several honors and homenages before and after her death.  De Burgos died on July 6, 1953 in New York. Reference:   http://www.elboricua.com/JuliaDeBurgos.html     Reference:  http://www.elboricua.com/JuliaDeBurgos.html