Ramón Emeterio Betances

Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacan ( born April 8, 1827 in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, † September 18, 1898 in Neuilly, France) was the leader of the Grito de Lares and is considered the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement.

Life

As the son of wealthy landowner, he was educated at elite private schools. His mother died when he was a young man, and his father sent him to France. In 1846 he received his Bachelor of Arts and then studied medicine in Paris. In 1853 he completed his studies at the Sorbonne as a doctor of medicine and surgery.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he first built a hospital in Mayagüez. Through his efforts he saved many Puerto Ricans of the cholera epidemic in 1856. At this time there came to the first confrontation with Spanish rulers since Betances treated worst the native Spaniards in the military. He donated a lot for the poor and was therefore known as " father of the poor ".

Independence

Betances believed in the abolition of slavery and founded a secret organization, the Secret Abolitionist Society. The group wanted to free child slaves through the sacrament of baptism. Also known as the " aguas de libertad " ( waters of liberty ) famous event took place in the Cathedral of Mayagüez. After the baptism of the child Betances gave the parents money with which they could freely buy the child.

The Spanish government, which prevailed in Puerto Rico, Betances banished into exile. This fled to the Dominican Republic and went from there to New York City where he and Segundo Ruiz Belvis the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico ( The Revolution Committee of Puerto Rico). Betances and Ruiz returned to the Dominican Republic, where they founded an armed expedition to invade the island. They also established revolutionary cells in Puerto Rico, among other things, were led by Manuel Rojas and Mathias Brugman. Betances instructed Mariana Bracetti to sew a flag for the revolution using the colors of the Dominican Republic. All of these factors eventually led to the failed uprising, which became known as the Grito de Lares in the story.

Betances then returned to Paris, where he continued his struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico. The abolition of slavery on March 22, 1873 was a great success for him. For his literary works, the French government honored him with the Order of the Legion of Honour.

Betances died in 1898 in France. The Nationalist Party of Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, under the leadership of José Coll y Cuchi was able to persuade the legislative branch of government, a transfer of Betances ' corpse to Puerto Rico to agree. On August 5, 1920, the body of the patriots arrived in San Juan, where she was taken to Cabo Rojo to the funeral.

A bust of the Italian sculptor Diego Montano is seen together with the revolutionary flag of the Grito de Lares and the flag of Puerto Rico in the marketplace of Cabo Rojo, which is named after Betances.

Works

• Toussaint L' ouverture, los dos indios (1852 )
• Un premio de Luis XIV ( 1853)
• Las cortesanas en París (1853 )
• La Vierge de Borinquen (1859 )
• La botijuela (1863 )
• Washington Haitiano ( Alexandre Petion essay, 1871)
• Los viajes de Scaldado (1890)