José Gualberto Padilla
Encyclopedia
Dr. José Gualberto Padilla (July 12, 1829 – May 26, 1896), also known as "El Caribe", was a poet, physician, journalist, politician and an advocate for Puerto Rico's independence
. He was under constant persecution by the Spanish Crown in Puerto Rico
because his patriotic verses, social criticism and political ideals were considered a threat and a danger to the Spanish Colonial rule of the island.
, the capital city of Puerto Rico
to José María Padilla Martínez and Trinidad Alfonso Sotomayor Ramírez, a native of Venezuela
. The family moved to the town of Añasco, where Padilla's father practiced law. There he received his primary education. He continued his secondary education in Santiago de Compostela
, Spain
to study medicine. During his stay he and group of Puerto Ricans who were living there, founded the newspaper "la Esperanza" and thrugh his publication criticized the political and social situation going on in Puerto Rico. In 1845, he moved to the city of Barcelona
where he earned his medical degree. He worked for various newspapers, to help pay for his education, and published a satirical politically oriented poem titled "Zoopolgrafia".
Padilla, together with Román Baldorioty de Castro
, founded the Puerto Rican chapter of the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
called "La Sociedad de Amigos del País de Puerto Rico" (the Economic Friends of Puerto Rico). The "Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País" (Economic Societies of Friends of the Country) were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment Spain
, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies.
. The short-lived revolt, planned by Ramón Emeterio Betances
and Segundo Ruiz Belvis
and carried out by various revolutionary cells established in Puerto Rico, occurred on September 23, 1868, and began in the town of Lares, Puerto Rico
.
Upon the failure of the revolt, some 475 rebels, among them Padilla, Manuel Rojas and Mariana Bracetti
were imprisoned in Arecibo
, where they were tortured and humiliated. Padilla continued to write poems during his confinement in prison. On November 17, a military court imposed the death penalty, for treason and sedition, on all the prisoners. Meanwhile, in Madrid, Eugenio María de Hostos
and other prominent Puerto Ricans were successful in interceding with President Francisco Serrano, who had himself had just led a revolution against the monarchy in Spain. In an effort to appease the already tense atmosphere on the island, the incoming governor, José Laureano Sanz, dictated a general amnesty early in 1869 and all prisoners were released. Betances and Rojas and many more were sent into exile.
In 1880, Padilla received an award for his poem "Contra el Periodismo Personal" from the newspaper "El Buscapie" owned by Manuel Fernández Juncos
. From 1886-1888, he wrote for the newspaper "El Palenque de la Juventud". Among his important works are:
and Vega Baja
His daughter, Trina Padilla de Sanz, a poet who assumed the pseudonym “La hija del Caribe” (Daughter of El Caribe), published a collection of his poetic works in 1912, titled "En el Combate y Rosas de passion" (In Combate and Roses of passion).
Puerto Rican independence movement
The Puerto Rican independence movement refers to initiatives throughout the history of Puerto Rico aimed at obtaining independence for the Island, first from Spain, and then from the United States...
. He was under constant persecution by the Spanish Crown in 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...
because his patriotic verses, social criticism and political ideals were considered a threat and a danger to the Spanish Colonial rule of the island.
Early years
Padilla was born in San JuanSan 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...
, the capital city of 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...
to José María Padilla Martínez and Trinidad Alfonso Sotomayor Ramírez, a native of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. The family moved to the town of Añasco, where Padilla's father practiced law. There he received his primary education. He continued his secondary education in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to study medicine. During his stay he and group of Puerto Ricans who were living there, founded the newspaper "la Esperanza" and thrugh his publication criticized the political and social situation going on in Puerto Rico. In 1845, he moved to the city of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
where he earned his medical degree. He worked for various newspapers, to help pay for his education, and published a satirical politically oriented poem titled "Zoopolgrafia".
Padilla, together with Román Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro distinguished himself as one of Puerto Rico's foremost abolitionists and spokesman for the island's right to self-determination...
, founded the Puerto Rican chapter of the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
The Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment Spain, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies .-History:The Sociedades Económicas were founded as part of a movement to...
called "La Sociedad de Amigos del País de Puerto Rico" (the Economic Friends of Puerto Rico). The "Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País" (Economic Societies of Friends of the Country) were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment Spain
Enlightenment Spain
The Age of Enlightenment came to Spain in the eighteenth century with a new Bourbon dynasty after the decay of the Spanish economy, bureaucracy, and empire in the latter years of the former Habsburg dynasty...
, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies.
Return to Puerto Rico
In 1857, he returned to Puerto Rico and settled in the town of Vega Baja. There he purchased an Hacienda, a sugar plantation called "Hacienda La Monserrate". The Hacienda generated enough income which permitted him to establish a clinic and practice medicine in the town. He treated the patients who were poor free of charge. Padilla, who also served two terms as Mayor of Vega Baja, abolished slavery in his Hacienda.Revolutionary
He helped organize an uprising against Spanish Colonial rule which is known as "El Grito de Lares". El Grito de Lares was the first major revolt against Spanish rule and call for independence in Puerto RicoPuerto 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...
. The short-lived revolt, planned by Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán was a Puerto Rican nationalist. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution, and as such, is considered to be the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement...
and Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Segundo Ruiz Belvis , was a dedicated abolitionist who also fought for Puerto Rico's right to independence.-Early years:...
and carried out by various revolutionary cells established in Puerto Rico, occurred on September 23, 1868, and began in the town of Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
.
Upon the failure of the revolt, some 475 rebels, among them Padilla, Manuel Rojas and Mariana Bracetti
Mariana Bracetti
Mariana Bracetti was a patriot and leader of the Puerto Rico independence movement in the 1860s. She is attributed with having knitted the flag that was intended to be used as the national emblem of Puerto Rico in its attempt to overthrow the Spanish government on the island, and to establish the...
were imprisoned in Arecibo
Arecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
, where they were tortured and humiliated. Padilla continued to write poems during his confinement in prison. On November 17, a military court imposed the death penalty, for treason and sedition, on all the prisoners. Meanwhile, in Madrid, Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
and other prominent Puerto Ricans were successful in interceding with President Francisco Serrano, who had himself had just led a revolution against the monarchy in Spain. In an effort to appease the already tense atmosphere on the island, the incoming governor, José Laureano Sanz, dictated a general amnesty early in 1869 and all prisoners were released. Betances and Rojas and many more were sent into exile.
Written works
Padilla returned home and wrote for various publications under the assumed the pseudonym "El Caribe" (sometimes he wrote as "Trabuco"). He criticized the director of "El Duende", a Spaniard who looked down on local Puerto Rican customs and traditions. Padilla also had a feud with Manuel de Palacio, a Spanish poet whose verses were offensive to the Puerto Rican people. In 1874, he published "Para un Palacio un Caribe" where he criticized Palacio.In 1880, Padilla received an award for his poem "Contra el Periodismo Personal" from the newspaper "El Buscapie" owned by Manuel Fernández Juncos
Manuel Fernández Juncos
Manuel Fernández Juncos was a Spanish journalist, poet, author and humanitarian who wrote the official lyrics to La Borinqueña, Puerto Rico's official anthem.-Early years:...
. From 1886-1888, he wrote for the newspaper "El Palenque de la Juventud". Among his important works are:
- "Nuevo cancionero de Borinquen" (1872)
- "El indio antillano"
- "El maestro Rafael" (dedicated to the Puerto Rican educator Rafael CorderoRafael Cordero (educator)Rafael Cordero , known as "The Father of Public Education in Puerto Rico", was a self-educated Puerto Rican who provided free schooling to children regardless of their race or social standing.-Early years:...
) - "En la muerte de Corchado" (dedicated to Manuel Corchado y JuarbeManuel Corchado y JuarbeManuel Corchado y Juarbe was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician who defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico...
) - "Para un Palacio un Caribe" (1874)
Later years
Padilla retired in 1888, and lived the last years of his life in his estate in Vega Baja. Padilla died on on May 26, 1896, hwoever he wrote his last poem "Canto a Puerto Rico" before his death.Legacy
Various towns in Puerto Rico have schools named after him. The towns with schools named José Gualberto Padilla are Cayey, AreciboArecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
and Vega Baja
His daughter, Trina Padilla de Sanz, a poet who assumed the pseudonym “La hija del Caribe” (Daughter of El Caribe), published a collection of his poetic works in 1912, titled "En el Combate y Rosas de passion" (In Combate and Roses of passion).
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- El Grito de Lares
- List of Puerto Rican writers