Jesus T. Piñero
Encyclopedia
Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez (April 6, 1897-November 16, 1952) was the first native Puerto Rican
to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico
by the Government of the United States.
, Puerto Rico
into a wealthy family of Galician origin and obtained his primary and secondary education in his hometown. In 1914, he graduated from the College of Liberal Arts
of the University of Puerto Rico
. He also attended and graduated from the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia.
kept him engaged in the dairy business and in the cultivation of sugar cane. He was always interested in the agricultural development of Puerto Rico which was one of the main reasons that led him to participate in political activities, particularly those concerning the issues of the cultivation of sugar cane.
Between 1928 and 1932, during the period that Puerto Rico's internal government was still governed by Americans appointed by the U.S.
, Piñero, was the President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Carolina. Between 1933 and 1937, he was the President of the Association of the Sugar Cane Industry and served in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
.
In 1938, Piñero was one of the founding members, along with Luis Muñoz Marín
of the Popular Democratic Party
. He was named Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
by the party, and represented the island in the United States House of Representatives
in Washington, D.C.
. His position, however, was one that did not have any voting powers.
Harry S. Truman
relieved Governor Rexford Guy Tugwell, who had served in this position from 1941 from the governorship and named Piñero governor in his place, the first native Puerto Rican appointed to that post under U.S. administration. On June 11, 1948, Piñero, signed the "Ley de la Mordaza" (Gag Law) or Law 53 as it was officially known, passed by the Puerto Rican legislature which made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican Flag
, sing a patriotic song, talk of independence and to fight for the liberation of the island. It resembled the anti-communist Smith Law
passed in the United States. He served as governor until 1949 when Puerto Rico celebrated its first election and Luis Muñoz Marín was elected governor.
, and was buried in his hometown, Carolina. Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a high school, public housing complex and a principal avenue in San Juan
and in Cayey after him. His hometown, Carolina had a monument sculpted by Jose Buscaglia Guillermety
, in his likeness which is located in the entrance of the town. The Agriculture building at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
is also named after him.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
by the Government of the United States.
Early years
Piñero was born in CarolinaCarolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
into a wealthy family of Galician origin and obtained his primary and secondary education in his hometown. In 1914, he graduated from the College of Liberal Arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. He also attended and graduated from the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia.
Political career
Between 1920 and 1944, Piñero's interest in agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
kept him engaged in the dairy business and in the cultivation of sugar cane. He was always interested in the agricultural development of Puerto Rico which was one of the main reasons that led him to participate in political activities, particularly those concerning the issues of the cultivation of sugar cane.
Between 1928 and 1932, during the period that Puerto Rico's internal government was still governed by Americans appointed by the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Piñero, was the President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Carolina. Between 1933 and 1937, he was the President of the Association of the Sugar Cane Industry and served in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico...
.
In 1938, Piñero was one of the founding members, along with Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
of the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
. He was named Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years...
by the party, and represented the island in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. His position, however, was one that did not have any voting powers.
First Puerto Rican governor appointed by the U.S.
In 1946, PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
relieved Governor Rexford Guy Tugwell, who had served in this position from 1941 from the governorship and named Piñero governor in his place, the first native Puerto Rican appointed to that post under U.S. administration. On June 11, 1948, Piñero, signed the "Ley de la Mordaza" (Gag Law) or Law 53 as it was officially known, passed by the Puerto Rican legislature which made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican Flag
Flag of Puerto Rico
The flags of Puerto Rico represent and symbolize the island and people of Puerto Rico. The most commonly used flags of Puerto Rico are the current flag, which represents the people of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico; municipal flags, which represent the different regions of the island; political...
, sing a patriotic song, talk of independence and to fight for the liberation of the island. It resembled the anti-communist Smith Law
Smith Act
The Alien Registration Act or Smith Act of 1940 is a United States federal statute that set criminal penalties for advocating the overthrow of the U.S...
passed in the United States. He served as governor until 1949 when Puerto Rico celebrated its first election and Luis Muñoz Marín was elected governor.
Legacy and Death
Jesús T. Piñero died on November 16, 1952 in the town of LoízaLoíza, Puerto Rico
Loíza is a small town and municipality in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, north of Canóvanas; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Loíza is spread over 5 wards and Loíza Pueblo...
, and was buried in his hometown, Carolina. Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a high school, public housing complex and a principal avenue in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and in Cayey after him. His hometown, Carolina had a monument sculpted by Jose Buscaglia Guillermety
Jose Buscaglia Guillermety
José Buscaglia Guillermety is an educator and sculptor.-Early years:Buscaglia was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico into a distinguished Puerto Rican family. His father Rafael was a very important and influential political figure within the ranks of The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico...
, in his likeness which is located in the entrance of the town. The Agriculture building at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
is also named after him.