Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos in Puerto Rico ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos in Puerto Rico and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Eugenio María de Hostos was born on January 11, 1839 in the town of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. His father, Don Eugenio María de Hostos y Rodríguez, was a wealthy landowner and sugarcane plantation owner. His mother, Doña María Antonia Rivera de Hostos y Sánchez de Toca, was a devoted Catholic who instilled strong religious values in her son.
Hostos was educated at home by tutors until the age of eleven when he was sent to study at the Colegio San José in Mayagüez. He excelled in his studies and graduated with honors in 1856. He then enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico where he studied philosophy and literature. In 1858, he transferred to the Central University of Madrid where he continued his studies in philosophy and literature.
In 1861, Hostos returned to Puerto Rico and became a teacher. He also began to write articles for the newspaper El Eco de Puerto Rico. In these articles, he advocated for the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a free and independent Puerto Rican state.
In 1865, Hostos married Carmen Meléndez-Pinto. The couple had four children.
In 1867, Hostos published his first book, La Revolución Puertorriqueña y otros ensayos (The Puerto Rican Revolution and Other Essays). This book earned him a reputation as a leading intellectual and political thinker in Puerto Rico.
In 1868, Hostos returned to the Dominican Republic where he participated in the revolution against the ruling Spanish government. After the revolution failed, he was exiled to New York City.
In New York, Hostos continued to work for the independence of Puerto Rico. He also wrote several books, including La Anunciación (The Annunciation) and La Nueva Cátedra (The New School).
In 1898, Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States during the Spanish-American War. Hostos returned to Puerto Rico and served as a member of the Puerto Rican Commission, which was tasked with drafting the island’s new constitution.
In 1899, Hostos moved to the Dominican Republic where he founded the Escuela Normal de Santo Domingo (Normal School of Santo Domingo). This school trained teachers and helped to modernize the Dominican Republic’s educational system.
Hostos died on August 11, 1903 in Santo Domingo. Today, he is considered one of the most important figures in Puerto Rican history.