Manuel Corchado y Juarbe
Encyclopedia
Manuel Corchado y Juarbe (September 12, 1840 - November 30, 1884) was a Puerto Rican
poet, journalist and politician who defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico. Through his written works he criticized the way the people of Puerto Rico were being treated by the island's Spanish appointed governor.
in Puerto Rico
. His parents were Juan Eugenio Corchado and Juana Eugenia Juarbe. He received his primary education in the towns of Isabela and Aguadilla. In 1855, his parents sent him to Barcelona
, Spain
where he received and finished his secondary education. Corchado y Juarbe later earned a law degree from the University of Barcelona
.
While living in Barcelona, he and José Coll y Britapaja, a fellow Puerto Rican, founded a magazine called "Las Antillas". He used the magazine to make public the social problems in Puerto Rico and what the people of the island were going through. He championed the idea of the establishment of a University and the abolition of slavery. Corchado y Juarbe also criticized and told of the abuses of Lieutenant General Féliz María de Messina Iglesias, the Spainish appointed governor in the island.
" (the Economic Friends of Puerto Rico). The "Sociedades Económicas de Amigos de Puerto Rico" was a bramch of the "Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País" were private associations established in various cities throughout Spain, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies. He won a first prize for his poem "Oda a Campeche". His poem was published in various Spanish newspapers and magazines. Corchado y Juarbe presided over the Ateneo Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Athenaeum
) for some time.
In 1881, he moved to the city of Ponce
because of health problems and continued for "El Agente" where he expressed his views. He then became a member of the new Reformist Party and ran for the position of representative to the Spanish Courts for said party. He was elected to represent the District of Aguadilla and returned to Spain.
Corchado y Juarbe made many enemies because of his views and was accused of electoral fraud. He defended the legality of his election to represent Puerto Rico before the Spanish Courts to no avail. Corchado y Juarbe returned to Madrid and was challenged to a gun dual. He accepted the challenge and on Noviembre 30, 1884, died of the wounds received. Moments before he died, he told his wife the following
. A committee to return Corchado y Juarbe's body to Isabela and to erect a monument to honor his memory and his life was organized by the local citizens in 1935. His remains were finally transferred from Madrid to Isabela in 1993 and interned in the local cemetery.
Puerto Rican poet José Gualberto Padilla
dedicated a poem to the memory of Corchado y Juarbe titled "En la muerte de Corchado". There is a school and street named after him in his hometown, Isabela On July 17, 1998, the Puerto Rican Legislature passed and approved Law 132 which designates the week beginning September 12th as "Manuel Corchado y Juarbe week".
Puerto Rican citizenship
Puerto Rican citizenship was first legislated by the U.S. Congress in Article 7 of the Foraker Act of 1900 and later recognized by the Puerto Rican constitution...
poet, journalist and politician who defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico. Through his written works he criticized the way the people of Puerto Rico were being treated by the island's Spanish appointed governor.
Early years
Corchado y Juarbe was born in Arenales Altos, barrio of the town of IsabelaIsabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
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...
. His parents were Juan Eugenio Corchado and Juana Eugenia Juarbe. He received his primary education in the towns of Isabela and Aguadilla. In 1855, his parents sent him to 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...
, 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...
where he received and finished his secondary education. Corchado y Juarbe later earned a law degree from the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
.
While living in Barcelona, he and José Coll y Britapaja, a fellow Puerto Rican, founded a magazine called "Las Antillas". He used the magazine to make public the social problems in Puerto Rico and what the people of the island were going through. He championed the idea of the establishment of a University and the abolition of slavery. Corchado y Juarbe also criticized and told of the abuses of Lieutenant General Féliz María de Messina Iglesias, the Spainish appointed governor in the island.
Return to Puerto Rico
Corchado y Juarbe returned to Puerto Rico and began a column in the newspaper "El Agente". In 1862, he entered a contest sponsored by the "La Sociedad de Amigos del País de Puerto RicoSociedad 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...
" (the Economic Friends of Puerto Rico). The "Sociedades Económicas de Amigos de Puerto Rico" was a bramch of the "Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País" were private associations established in various cities throughout Spain, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies. He won a first prize for his poem "Oda a Campeche". His poem was published in various Spanish newspapers and magazines. Corchado y Juarbe presided over the Ateneo Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Athenaeum
Puerto Rican Athenaeum
The Puerto Rican Athenaeum —or Ateneo Puertorriqueño in Spanish— is one of Puerto Rico's chief cultural institutions. It was founded in 1876.The Athenaeum serves as a museum, school, library, and performance hall for the greater Puerto Rico...
) for some time.
Spanish Courts
Corchado y Juarbe was a supporter of the Spanish Revolución of 1868, believing that the Spanish colonies will enjoy more liberties with the establishment of the new regime. After the success of the revolution, which established a republican government, he was elected in 1871 to represent the District of Mayagüez and Puerto Rico before the Spanish Courts in Barcelona. Corchado y Juarbe made use of his position to denounce the use of capital punishment and voice his support of the new Spanish Constitution. He also delivered speeches in which he favored the improvement of social and economic conditions for the Spanish colonies. In 1875, the Spanish royal family returned to power and Corchado y Juarbe decided that it was too dangerous to continue in his political quest. In 1879, he returned to Puerto Rico.In 1881, he moved to the city of Ponce
Ponce
-Persons:* Antonio Ponce de Santa Cruz*Camilo Ponce , President of Ecuador 1956–1960*Carlos Ponce , Puerto Rican actor, singer, and composer*Daniel Ponce de León , Mexican professional boxer...
because of health problems and continued for "El Agente" where he expressed his views. He then became a member of the new Reformist Party and ran for the position of representative to the Spanish Courts for said party. He was elected to represent the District of Aguadilla and returned to Spain.
Corchado y Juarbe made many enemies because of his views and was accused of electoral fraud. He defended the legality of his election to represent Puerto Rico before the Spanish Courts to no avail. Corchado y Juarbe returned to Madrid and was challenged to a gun dual. He accepted the challenge and on Noviembre 30, 1884, died of the wounds received. Moments before he died, he told his wife the following
"Tell them my name, that I accomplished the mission of sacrificing my life for my country"
Legacy
Corchado y Juarbe's body was buried in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. A committee to return Corchado y Juarbe's body to Isabela and to erect a monument to honor his memory and his life was organized by the local citizens in 1935. His remains were finally transferred from Madrid to Isabela in 1993 and interned in the local cemetery.
Puerto Rican poet José Gualberto Padilla
José Gualberto Padilla
Dr. José Gualberto Padilla , also known as "El Caribe", was a poet, physician, journalist, politician and an advocate for Puerto Rico's independence...
dedicated a poem to the memory of Corchado y Juarbe titled "En la muerte de Corchado". There is a school and street named after him in his hometown, Isabela On July 17, 1998, the Puerto Rican Legislature passed and approved Law 132 which designates the week beginning September 12th as "Manuel Corchado y Juarbe week".
Written works
Among Corchado y Juarbe's written works are the following:- "Biografía de Lincoln" (Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
) - "Historia de Ultratumba"
- "Oda a Campeche" (Jose CampecheJosé CampecheJosé Campeche , born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first known Puerto Rican visual artist and considered by many as one of the best rococo artists in the Americas.-Early years:...
) - "Las Barricadas".