José Semidei Rodríguez
José Semidei Rodríguez | |
---|---|
Havana, Cuba | |
Allegiance | Cuban Liberation Army Cuban National Army |
Years of service | 1895 - 1932 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Battles/wars | Cuban War of Independence *Battle of "Las Villas" |
Brigadier General José Semidei Rodríguez
Early years
Semidei (sometimes spelled "Semidey") Rodríguez was born to Pascual Semidei and Celestina Rodríguez in the town of
Another influential factor was that Spain had lost most of its possessions in the so-called "New World" and feared the possibility of a rebellion in its last two Caribbean possessions—Puerto Rico and Cuba. As a consequence the Spanish Crown had issued the Royal Decree of Graces (Real Cedula de Gracias) which fostered and encouraged the immigration of Catholics of non-Hispanic origin to its Caribbean Colonies. The situation and opportunities offered, plus the fact that the geographies of the islands are similar, were ideal for the immigration of hundreds of families, such as the Semidey's, from Corsica to Puerto Rico. Corsicans and those of Corsican descent have played an instrumental role in the development of the economy of the island, especially in the coffee industry. The Semidei's, as did the majority of the Corsican immigrants, settled in the southwestern town of Yauco which is located in the southern coast of the island by the Caribbean Sea.[2]
The Semidei's were dedicated to the cultivation of coffee and within a short period of time were very successful in their venture. Semidei Rodríguez received his primary education in his hometown and in 1879, he was sent to the Dominican Republic to continue his academic training in that country's educational institutions.[2]
Cuban War of Independence
The
Among the battles in which Semidei Rodríguez fought were the Battles of "Las Villas", where the rebels had 41 encounters with the 40,000 Spanish soldiers, cavalry and infantry, and the Battle of "Sagua la Grande".
Post war and final years
After the hostilities between Spain, Cuba and the United States came to an end and Cuba was granted its independence, Semidei Rodríguez entered the Cuban National Army with the rank of captain. In 1905, he was promoted to commandant. He continued to serve and in 1913 was promoted to lieutenant colonel and in 1919 to colonel. On August 19, 1921, Semidei Rodríguez was promoted to brigadier general. Semidei Rodríguez retired from the military in 1932 and in 1933 served as a diplomat representing Cuba. He was the appointed Cuban ambassador to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. On February 19, 1958, Semidei Rodríguez died in Havana, Cuba.[1]
Further reading
- "Historia militar de Puerto Rico"; by ISBN 978-84-7844-138-9
See also
- Military history of Puerto Rico
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico
- Juan Ríus Rivera
- Francisco Gonzalo Marín
Notes
- Spanish name, the first or paternal surnameis Semidei and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-84-7844-138-9
- ^ a b c A Brief Chronology Archived 2007-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved July 31, 2007
- ^ New York Times; August 1, 1895
- ^ a b Latin American Studies
- ^ "The War for Cuban Independence"; by: Jerry A. Sierra