Famous People
There are many famous people from Puerto Rico including politicians, athletes, poets, and actors.
Maria Bibiana Benitez Castanza 1783-1873
Maria Bibiana Benitez was born on December 10th, 1783 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She was the first Puerto Rican woman poet. In 1832 she published La Ninfa de Puerto Rico. She was also the first woman to write a dramatic play, La Crus del Morro (The Cross of El Morro). Her best known poems are Soneto (1839), Diálgo Alegórico (1858), and A La Vejez. She died on April 18th, 1873 in San Juan.
Manuel A. Alonso y Pacheco 1822-1889
Manuel Alonso y Pacheco was a writer, poet, and journalist. He was born on October 22nd, 1822 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He was educated in Cayey and San Indelfonso Seminary in San Juan then in 1842 he moved to Barcelona, Spain when he went to the University of Bercelona to study medicine. He majored in mental disorders. In 1844 he published an album called Puertorriqueño. He returned to Puerto Ricoto practice his work in Caguas. He published El Gíbaro, which is now spelled El Jibaro, in 1849. Manuel died on April 18th, 1873 in San Juan.
Felisa Rincón de Gautier 1897-1994
 Felisa Rincón de Gautier was born on January 9th, 1897 in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. she was the first woman in the history of the Americas to be elected for mayor af a capital city. She was mayor of San Juan from 1946-1969 and bacame very popular. Part of the reason was because she would fly snow to San Juan for kids' Christmas parties. In 1953 the League of American Women gave Felisa the Woman of the Year Award. She died on September 16th, 1994 in San Juan.
Rafael Alers 1903-1978
 Rafael Alers was born on October 16th, 1903 in Aquadilla, Puerto Rico. He was a musician and notorious orchestra director and composer. He composed music for the movie Crowded Paradise. His best know work was Violeta. Rafael died on March 20th, 1978 in San Juan.
Justino Diaz 1940-
 Justino Diaz is an opera singer. He was born on January 29th, 1940 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a soloist for the choir at the University of Puerto Rico. He studied music in New England Conservatory of Music and has played with many prestigious orchestras and in many opera movies. He received th Handel Award from the City of New York and the National Cultural Medal from the Puerto Rico Cultural Institute.
Raul Julia 1940-
 Raul Julia was born on March 9th, 1940 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You many know him better as Gomez from the Addams Family but he has also played in movies like Tequilla Sunrise and The Rookie.
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José Feliciano 1945-
 José Feliciano was born blind on September 10th, 1945 in Lares, Puerto Rico. He is known to some as the "greatest living guitarist". When he was five years old he moved to New York and could play the concertina by six using records as his teacher. Eventually he taught himself to play the guitar and has since won over 40 gold and platinum records, 6 out of 14 Grammy nominations, and prestigious awards all over the world. He is even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His most famous works are Light My Fire, Chico & the Man, Destiny, Ay cariño, Cuando el amor se acaba, and Feliz Navidad.
Victor A. Carreño 1956-
 Victor A. Carreño was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico in 1956. He is a NASA Aerospace Engineer and Aerospace Technologist. In 1979 he reveived his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electric Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico. He was hired by NASA Langley Research Centers. He has had a patent for the Single Frequency Multitransmitter Telemetry System since 1983. In 1985 he received his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Old Dominion University and in 1997 a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge in England.
Benicio Del Toro 1967-
 Benicio Del Toro was born on February 19th, 1967 in San German, Puerto Rico. he is an actor in many movies such as 21 Grams, Traffic, Snatch, and The Usual Suspects.
Ivan Rodriguez 1971-
 Ivan Rodriguez was born on November 30th,1971 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He is an all-star major league baseball catcher.
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