José M. Dávila Monsanto
Encyclopedia
José M. Dávila Monsanto (November 2, 1905 – April 4, 2001) was a Puerto Rican
politician and lawyer who in 1938 co-founded the political party Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
), otherwise known as the PPD
. He served in the Puerto Rican Senate as a representative of the PPD, and was the first member of the Puerto Rican legislature to present a bill allowing married couples to get a divorce by mutual consent.
. There he received his primary education. He moved to Rio Piedras, where he finished his secondary education at the Normal School of the University of Puerto Rico
and after his graduation he was accepted in the university where he earned his Bachelors
degree in Education. He went on to study law and in 1934 earned his Juris Doctor
from his Alma Mater. On August 20, 1937, Dávila Monsanto married Inés Lopés Rodríguez on August 20, 1937, and had three children; Inés María, José Manuel and Juan Antonio.
. He was elected Vice-president of the Juventud Liberal de Puerto Rico (the Liberal Youth of Puerto Rico), the youth branch of the PPD, and also served as President of the Rio Piedras chapter of the Juventud Liberal de Rio Piedras (the Liberal Youth of Rio Piedras). In 1935, Dávila Monsanto set up his law practice in Rio Piedras and continued to practice there until 1941, when he moved to the town of Guayama, Puerto Rico
.
The Río Piedras massacre
of four Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
members occurred on October 24, 1935. The Nationalist Party blamed these deaths on Elisha Francis Riggs, a former United States Army Colonel whom, at the time, was the top U.S.-appointed police officer on the entire island. Consequently on February 23, 1936, Colonel Riggs was assassinated by Nationalists Hiram Rosado and Elías Beauchamp. This prompted U.S Senator Millard Tydings
to introduce a legislation to grant independence to Puerto Rico. Dávila Monsanto was in favor of the proposal. However Luis Muñoz Marín
objected because, in his view, Puerto Rico was incapable of independence without U.S. economic support.
, Felisa Rincon de Gautier
and Ernesto Ramos Antonini
and founded the "Partido Popular Democratico de Puerto Rico" known in English
as the "Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico" (PDP). The party at first ran on an independence platform, but later abandoned the idea and instead supported Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's status as a commonwealth
of the United States. He was named the party's vice-president in the town of Guayama.
In 1940, he served on the Advisory Board of the Selective Service in Rio Piedras. From 1942 to 1945, he served on the governing board of the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico. In 1943, he was elected and served as a delegate to the first Pro Independence Congress. In 1944, Dávila Monsanto, was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate in representation of the District of Guayama and presided over the Senate Regulations and Special Issues committee.
From 1951 to 1952, Dávila Monsanto was a member of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the Constitution of Puerto Rico. As a member of the assembly, he fought for the abolition of the death penalty.
The government of Puerto Rico named the highway that extends from PR-54 (Puerto Rico Highway 54
), in Guayama, to PR-52, in Salinas
the Autopista José M. Dávila Monsanto (the José M. Dávila Monsanto Highway).
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
politician and lawyer who in 1938 co-founded the political party Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
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....
), otherwise known as the PPD
PPD
PPD may refer to:Computing* Points Per Day is a mechanism for measuring work done in the Folding@home distributed computing project* PostScript Printer Description files are created by vendors to describe the entire set of features and capabilities available for their PostScript printersPolitical...
. He served in the Puerto Rican Senate as a representative of the PPD, and was the first member of the Puerto Rican legislature to present a bill allowing married couples to get a divorce by mutual consent.
Early years
Dávila Monsanto was one of eight siblings born to Juan A. Dávila and María Monsanto in the town of Yabucoa, Puerto RicoYabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
. There he received his primary education. He moved to Rio Piedras, where he finished his secondary education at the Normal School 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...
and after his graduation he was accepted in the university where he earned his Bachelors
degree in Education. He went on to study law and in 1934 earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from his Alma Mater. On August 20, 1937, Dávila Monsanto married Inés Lopés Rodríguez on August 20, 1937, and had three children; Inés María, José Manuel and Juan Antonio.
Political activism
During his student years in the University, Dávila Monsanto became active in politics. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Puerto Rico, a pro-independence political partyPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. He was elected Vice-president of the Juventud Liberal de Puerto Rico (the Liberal Youth of Puerto Rico), the youth branch of the PPD, and also served as President of the Rio Piedras chapter of the Juventud Liberal de Rio Piedras (the Liberal Youth of Rio Piedras). In 1935, Dávila Monsanto set up his law practice in Rio Piedras and continued to practice there until 1941, when he moved to the town of Guayama, Puerto Rico
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Guayama is a municipality of Puerto Rico founded on January 29, 1736 and located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo. Guayama is spread over 9 wards and Guayama Pueblo...
.
The Río Piedras massacre
Río Piedras massacre
The Río Piedras massacre occurred at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and involved a confrontation between local police officers and supporters of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party on October 24, 1935...
of four Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
members occurred on October 24, 1935. The Nationalist Party blamed these deaths on Elisha Francis Riggs, a former United States Army Colonel whom, at the time, was the top U.S.-appointed police officer on the entire island. Consequently on February 23, 1936, Colonel Riggs was assassinated by Nationalists Hiram Rosado and Elías Beauchamp. This prompted U.S Senator Millard Tydings
Millard Tydings
Millard Evelyn Tydings was an attorney, author, soldier, state legislator, and served as a Democratic Representative and Senator in the United States Congress from Maryland.-Early life:...
to introduce a legislation to grant independence to Puerto Rico. Dávila Monsanto was in favor of the proposal. However 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...
objected because, in his view, Puerto Rico was incapable of independence without U.S. economic support.
Partido Popular Democratico de Puerto Rico
In 1938, Dávila Monsanto joined various former members of the Liberal Party, such as Luis Muñoz MarínLuis 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...
, Felisa Rincon de Gautier
Felisa Rincón de Gautier
Felisa Rincón de GautierThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name "Rincón" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Gautier"...
and Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:...
and founded the "Partido Popular Democratico de Puerto Rico" known in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the "Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico" (PDP). The party at first ran on an independence platform, but later abandoned the idea and instead supported Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's status as a commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States insular area)
In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is a type of organized but unincorporated dependent territory.The definition of "Commonwealth" according to current U.S. State Department policy reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific...
of the United States. He was named the party's vice-president in the town of Guayama.
In 1940, he served on the Advisory Board of the Selective Service in Rio Piedras. From 1942 to 1945, he served on the governing board of the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico. In 1943, he was elected and served as a delegate to the first Pro Independence Congress. In 1944, Dávila Monsanto, was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate in representation of the District of Guayama and presided over the Senate Regulations and Special Issues committee.
From 1951 to 1952, Dávila Monsanto was a member of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the Constitution of Puerto Rico. As a member of the assembly, he fought for the abolition of the death penalty.
Legacy
In 1978, the town of Guayama proclaimed Dávila Monsanto Hijo Adoptivo Distinguido de la Ciudad de Guayama (Distinguished Adopted Son of the City of Guayama). On April 4, 2001, Dávila Monsanto died in his home in Guayama.The government of Puerto Rico named the highway that extends from PR-54 (Puerto Rico Highway 54
Puerto Rico Highway 54
Puerto Rico Highway 54 is a short divided highway located in Guayama, Puerto Rico and is mainly a pass-by route from Puerto Rico Highway 3 out of Downtown Guayama to Puerto Rico Highway 53. The government of Puerto Rico named the strech of highway that extends from PR-54, in Guayama, to PR-52, in...
), in Guayama, to PR-52, in Salinas
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
the Autopista José M. Dávila Monsanto (the José M. Dávila Monsanto Highway).