Eduardo Georgetti
Eduardo Georgetti | |
|---|---|
Puerto Rican Senate from at-large district | |
| In office 1917–1921 | |
| President pro tempore of the Senate of Puerto Rico | |
| In office 1917–1921 | |
| Succeeded by | Juan Hernández López |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 11, 1866 senator , farmer, businessman |
| Georgetti was the first vice-president of the Puerto Rican Senate | |
Eduardo Georgetti (October 11, 1866 – November 26, 1937), was an agriculturist, businessman, philanthropist, and politician. Georgetti, who came from a family of landowners, became one of Puerto Rico's wealthiest sugar barons and benefactors. In 1917, he became the
Early years
Georgetti (sometimes also spelled as "Giorgetti") was born in the town of
Sugar baron
Upon his return to Puerto Rico he found that the lands which he had left in the hands of his uncle had prospered enormously. Georgetti married Aúrea Balseiro Dávila in 1888. Together with his father-in-law, Rafael Balseiro, he purchased a company called Florida Agrícola and renamed it Sociedad Agrícola Industrial Balseiro y Georgetti (the Balseiro and Georgetti Industrial Agricultural Society). Georgetti founded and was the owner of the Plazuela Sugar Company, a sugar refinery, in the town of Barceloneta which had its own dock that was used to transport sugar by barge to the waiting ships on the ocean. The company, which was the core of his fortune, was the main source of income and employment of the towns' inhabitants.[1]
Georgetti expanded his
Political career
It was common practice in Puerto Rico for businessmen to become involved in politics.
Georgetti continued to serve as mayor of Barceloneta from 1897 to 1898. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Puerto Rico, which supported the Spanish government headed by
In 1916, Georgetti's long-time friend Luis Muñoz Rivera fell gravely ill in New York City and returned to Puerto Rico, staying in Georgetti's house to recuperate. Georgetti summoned Muñoz Rivera's wife and son,
After Muñoz Rivera's death, Barceló became the leading force behind the Union Party and its liberal ideas for the island. In the elections of 1917, the Union Party was victorious. Antonio R. Barceló was named President of the
Georgetti was committed to the original independentista ideals of the Union Party, and found these incompatible with an "economic partnership" with the United States, as espoused by the Alliance coalition. Barceló and a group of party delegates had traveled to Washington, D.C. to seek changes in the Jones Act of 1917, by claiming that the Puerto Rican economy was sound and that Puerto Ricans were capable of electing their own governor. In response, Georgetti traveled to Washington as a representative of various island organizations, among them the Agriculturist Association and the Association of Sugar Producers. The group which he represented became known by the press as the Fuerzas Vivas (Live Forces).
Georgetti and the Fuerzas Vivas submitted a "Fiscal Memorandum" to the U.S. Secretary of War, which presented a much bleaker view of the Puerto Rican economy. According to this memorandum, the island was on the brink of economic ruin unless it diversified its agricultural production, and become less dependent on the sugar industry as its sole source of income. Georgetti's actions were viewed by Barceló as an attempt by Georgetti and the Fuerzas Vivas to discredit Barceló and weaken the Alliance. Georgetti denied this, and quit the Alliance.[7]
Later years
In 1923, Georgetti and his wife built a mansion in
Prior to the mansion, Georgetti lived in a
Georgetti and his wife did not have any offspring, however they were the benefactors of many talented children who lacked the economic means to pursue an education. As a philanthropist, he was a sponsor of the arts and sciences. Georgetti was also the president of the Children's Tuberculosis Sanitarium of Puerto Rico.
Eduardo Georgetti died in his Santurce residence on November 26, 1937.[10] He was buried at Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery. His wife Aúrea died the following year.[11] Their Mansion Georgetti was sold in 1971, demolished, and replaced with an apartment building complex.[8]
The Casa Georgetti in Rio Piedras was landmarked and restored to its original condition.[9]
Legacy
The town of Barceloneta honored Georgetti's memory by naming a principal avenue and an urbanization (Villa Georgetti) after him. In the town of Santurce there is also a theater, Teatro Georgetti, named in his honor.[12] Other cities in Puerto Rico have honored his memory by naming several streets after him, including San Juan, Humacao, Comerío and Vega Alta.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Personas de Barceloneta, Puerto Rico que se han distinguido en la Politica". Angelfire (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Cronología del Comercio y la industria
- ^ ISBN 978-0-942347-52-4
- ^ Historia de Barceloneta
- ^ Bernier-Grand et al., p. 22
- ^ "Caribbean Business". Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ El Pensador
- ^ a b Mansion Georgetti
- ^ a b "Casa Georgetti". Archived from the original on 4 October 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Murió el ilustre portorriqueño don Eduardo Georgetti
- ^ Eduardo Georgetti
- ^ Univision
Further reading
- Eduardo Giorgetti Y Su Mundo: La Aparente Paradoja De Un Millonario Genio Empresarial Y Su Noble Humanismo by ISBN 978-0-942347-52-4