José Ramon Fernández
Encyclopedia
José Ramon Fernández "Marqués de La Esperanza" (1808 - 1883), was the wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico in the 19th century. He was also one of the most powerful men of the entire Spanish Caribbean. His wealth and political connections gave him the power to convince the Spanish Colonial government in the island to split the municipality of Manati
in two, thus the creation of the municipality of Barceloneta
.
. Fernández's father was a naval captain who fought against pirates and English
merchant ships. In 1797, the Spanish Royal Crown granted him land in the towns of Bayamon
and Manati in recognition of his service to Spain
. In Bayamon he planted sugar canes and raised cattle. His father named the property the "Santa Ana Plantation". In 1804, the elder Fernández used a mixture of sugar and honey to process and distill rum. He aged his product in special barrels which were imported from Europe
. The rum he produced was only for his own personal use and that of his family. In 1827, he ordered his 127 slaves to build an enormous windmill
shaped like a tower
. The windmill helped to extract the juice from the sugar canes. He would still resort to the use of manpower
, whenever the wind wasn't strong enough for to operate the windmill. The Elder Fernández did the same with his other plantation in Manati, which he named "Hacienda La Esperanza".
Fernández received his primary education in Puerto Rico. In 1819, when he was eleven years old his father sent him to Spain
to study business administration. When he was seventeen he continued his education in England
where he became fluent in the English language
. He went to the United States
in his early twenties and continued his education in New York City
. There he befriended various businessmen who in the future will help him in his commercial endeavors.
where he moved with his family.
Fernández was the president of the "Partido Incondicional Español" (Unconditional Spanish Party), a conservative political party in Puerto Rico. He was appointed to several political positions. He was in good political standing with Queen Isabella II of Spain
and the Spanish appointed Government of the island because of his political views which favored the monarchy and the Spanish colonization of the island. He became involved in with various businesses and in 1850, used his political influence to lobby for the establishment of a railroad line between San Juan and Arecibo
with the financial backing of Augusto de Cottes and Cornelio Kortwright.
, and ushered the First Spanish Republic
into power. The new government replaced Isabella with Amadeo I
, son of the Italian king
, after much deliberation. The new provisional government allowed its colonies to send representatives to the Spanish Courts. Fernández was among those who represented Puerto Rico. On February 5, 1869, the Spanish government bestowed the title of "Marqués de La Esperanza" (Marquis of Hope) upon Fernández.
When his father died he inherited "La Esperanza", which at the time was one of the largest and the most technically advanced sugar plantations in Puerto Rico. The 2,265 acres of land, where "La Esperanza" was situated, were rich in alluvial deposits an important element for the cultivation of the sugar cane. Fernández owes his prosperity to the slaves who provided the manpower to run the plantation and to the factory equipment which included a steam engine with its two-flue boiler purchased from the West Point Foundry of New York, elaboration (Jamaican) train, a conveyor belt and four evaporators.
Fernández convinced the government to allow the establishment of the municipality of Barceloneta which required that the municipality of Manati be divided in two. His motives were for his own economic benefit and not for the political benefits of the residents of both municipalities. Fernández was well aware that he would have to pay taxes from the movement of goods and slaves if he used the ports of Manati. The establishment of the mew municipality, allowed Fernández to build his own port, thus obtaining movement for his merchandise free of taxes.
In 1975, the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust acquired the Hacienda La Esperanza. La Esperanza is one of the most valuable assets of the Puerto Rico conservation trust. In 1984 the conservation trust began work on the restoration of the structures of the area.
Manatí, Puerto Rico
Manatí is a municipality of Puerto Rico in the northern coast, north of Morovis and Ciales; east of Florida and Barceloneta; and west of Vega Baja. Manatí is spread over 8 wards and Manatí Pueblo...
in two, thus the creation of the municipality of Barceloneta
Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
Barceloneta is a municipality in Puerto Rico and is located in the north region, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Florida, east of Arecibo and west of Manati. Barceloneta is spread over 3 wards and Barceloneta Pueblo...
.
Early years
Fernández (birth name: José Ramon Fernández y Martínez) was one of three siblings born to Fernando Fernández and Francisca Martínez in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan 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...
. Fernández's father was a naval captain who fought against pirates and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
merchant ships. In 1797, the Spanish Royal Crown granted him land in the towns of Bayamon
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
and Manati in recognition of his service to 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...
. In Bayamon he planted sugar canes and raised cattle. His father named the property the "Santa Ana Plantation". In 1804, the elder Fernández used a mixture of sugar and honey to process and distill rum. He aged his product in special barrels which were imported from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The rum he produced was only for his own personal use and that of his family. In 1827, he ordered his 127 slaves to build an enormous windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
shaped like a tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
. The windmill helped to extract the juice from the sugar canes. He would still resort to the use of manpower
Manpower
Manpower may refer to:*Human resourcesOrganizations:*Manpower Inc., an international employment agency, headquartered in the United States*Manpower Incorporated, a criminal enterprise in the Honor Harrington science fiction series...
, whenever the wind wasn't strong enough for to operate the windmill. The Elder Fernández did the same with his other plantation in Manati, which he named "Hacienda La Esperanza".
Fernández received his primary education in Puerto Rico. In 1819, when he was eleven years old his father sent him to 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 business administration. When he was seventeen he continued his education in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he became fluent in the English language
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...
. He went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in his early twenties and continued his education in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. There he befriended various businessmen who in the future will help him in his commercial endeavors.
Return to Puerto Rico
Fernández returned to Puerto Rico in 1826 and helped his father in the administration of the La Esperanza sugar plantation. He met and befriended George C. Lattimer, the United States consulate in San Juan. Together with Lattimer who was also a sugar broker, he founded Lattimer & Fernández Co. The company, which was located in San Juan, was a distributor of sugar, molasses and rum and also dealt with other commodities such as food and textiles. Fernández married Clemencia Dorado y Serrano and in 1834, decided to dedicate himself to his commercial interests instead of the agricultural ones. He established a warehouse in the town of MayaguezMayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
where he moved with his family.
Fernández was the president of the "Partido Incondicional Español" (Unconditional Spanish Party), a conservative political party in Puerto Rico. He was appointed to several political positions. He was in good political standing with Queen Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
and the Spanish appointed Government of the island because of his political views which favored the monarchy and the Spanish colonization of the island. He became involved in with various businesses and in 1850, used his political influence to lobby for the establishment of a railroad line between San Juan and 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...
with the financial backing of Augusto de Cottes and Cornelio Kortwright.
Marqués de La Esperanza
An uprising against the monarchs of Spain forced Queen Isabella II to go into exile on September of 1868. This revolt, which deposed Isabella, is known as the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution (Spain)
The Glorious Revolution took place in Spain in 1868, resulting in the deposition of Queen Isabella II.An 1866 rebellion led by General Juan Prim and a revolt of the sergeants at San Gil barracks, in Madrid, sent a signal to Spanish liberals and republicans that there was serious unrest with the...
, and ushered the First Spanish Republic
First Spanish Republic
The First Spanish Republic was the political regime that existed in Spain between the parliamentary proclamation on 11 February 1873 and 29 December 1874 when General Arsenio Martínez-Campos's pronunciamento marked the beginning of the Bourbon Restoration in Spain...
into power. The new government replaced Isabella with Amadeo I
Amadeo I of Spain
Amadeo I was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy...
, son of the Italian king
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
, after much deliberation. The new provisional government allowed its colonies to send representatives to the Spanish Courts. Fernández was among those who represented Puerto Rico. On February 5, 1869, the Spanish government bestowed the title of "Marqués de La Esperanza" (Marquis of Hope) upon Fernández.
When his father died he inherited "La Esperanza", which at the time was one of the largest and the most technically advanced sugar plantations in Puerto Rico. The 2,265 acres of land, where "La Esperanza" was situated, were rich in alluvial deposits an important element for the cultivation of the sugar cane. Fernández owes his prosperity to the slaves who provided the manpower to run the plantation and to the factory equipment which included a steam engine with its two-flue boiler purchased from the West Point Foundry of New York, elaboration (Jamaican) train, a conveyor belt and four evaporators.
Fernández convinced the government to allow the establishment of the municipality of Barceloneta which required that the municipality of Manati be divided in two. His motives were for his own economic benefit and not for the political benefits of the residents of both municipalities. Fernández was well aware that he would have to pay taxes from the movement of goods and slaves if he used the ports of Manati. The establishment of the mew municipality, allowed Fernández to build his own port, thus obtaining movement for his merchandise free of taxes.
Legacy
Fernández incurred in many debts because of the money which he barrowed to mechanize his plantation. He was unable to pay his debts and when he died his family became involved in a family feud as to who was the rightful inheritor of the plantation. However it was the Colonial Company Ltd, who Fernandez owed the most money to, that had the final say in the matter. The Colonial Company Ltd. claimed ownership of the land.In 1975, the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust acquired the Hacienda La Esperanza. La Esperanza is one of the most valuable assets of the Puerto Rico conservation trust. In 1984 the conservation trust began work on the restoration of the structures of the area.
See also
- Fernando Fernández
- List of famous Puerto Ricans