Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Segundo Ruiz Belvis | |
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Abolitionist | |
Notes | |
Ruiz Belvis helped plan an armed expedition to Puerto Rico in what was to become known as the "Grito de Lares ". |
Segundo Ruiz Belvis (13 May 1829 – 3 November 1867)[1] was a Puerto Rican abolitionist who also fought for Puerto Rico's right to independence.
Early years
Ruiz Belvis was born in
Abolitionist
In 1859, Ruiz Belvis returned to Puerto Rico and befriended
When Ruiz Belvis returned to Madrid in 1865, he represented the abolitionist cause to the Cortes Generales. Although his ideas were considered dangerous by the Spanish rulers for their threat to the existing order, he helped begin the movement that would eventually lead to the liberation of the slaves in the remaining Spanish Colonies in Latin America. In 1866 after his father's death, Ruiz Belvis inherited his family's hacienda Josefa; the first thing he did was free the slaves.[3]
Puerto Rican independence advocate
Upon returning to Puerto Rico, Ruiz Belvis found out that the Spanish-appointed governor, José María Marchesi Oleaga, did not like the liberal ideas that Ruiz Belvis and his friends had; they were all banished to exile.[4]
Ruiz Belvis eventually ended up in New York in 1866, where together with Betances and other patriots, he formed the "Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico" (Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico) for the independence of the island. They developed a plan to send an armed expedition to Puerto Rico, in what was to become known as the "Grito de Lares". During this time, Ruiz Belvis became ill. He still traveled to Valparaíso, Chile, to raise funds for the planned revolution.[4]
Ruiz Belvis died in Valparaiso of
Legacy
To honor the memory of Segundo Ruiz Belvis, Puerto Rico has named many streets after him. A school has been named for him in each of the following places: his birth town of Hormigueros,
References
- ^ "Segundo Ruiz Belvis". EnciclopediaPR. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ Hormigueros: History and Founding. Archived 12 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia Puerto Rico. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ a b c Biografía de Segundo Ruiz Belvis
- ^ a b c El Nuevo Dia Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mausoleo de Segundo Ruiz Belvis
- ^ Escuela Segundo Ruiz Belvis - Ponce. Puerto Rico Department of Education. Retrieved 17 October 2012. Archived.
- ^ "Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center". Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2007.