Alejandro Ramírez (economist) facts for kids
Alejandro Ramírez y Blanco (born February 25, 1777 – died May 20, 1821) was an important Spanish economist. He worked to improve how governments managed money in different parts of the Spanish Empire.
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Who Was Alejandro Ramírez?
Alejandro Ramírez was born in Alaejos, Spain. He studied Economy at the University of Alcalá. In 1795, he moved to Guatemala.
Early Career in Guatemala
In 1802, Ramírez became the secretary to Guatemala's Captain general, Antonio González Mollinedo y Saravia. A Captain General was like a governor of a large area in the Spanish colonies.
Improving Puerto Rico's Finances
On December 12, 1812, Ramírez took on a new role as the Intendant of Puerto Rico. An Intendant was a high-ranking official in charge of finances and administration. While in Puerto Rico, he made many important changes to how the government handled money.
His financial reforms made the government work much better. He helped reduce government spending and created a fairer income tax. This allowed the island's local towns, called municipalities, to have more control over their own money. Because of his efforts, Puerto Rico's treasury grew by more than 300 percent in just his first year!
Work in Cuba
In 1815, Ramírez was chosen to oversee the finances of the Spanish Crown in Cuba. By July 3, 1816, he became the Superintendent of Cuba and Intendant of Havana.
During his time in Cuba, he strongly supported ending the monopoly on tobacco. A monopoly means only one company or group can sell a certain product. He believed that more people should be able to trade tobacco freely.
He also helped create a Royal Decree in 1818. This important law gave Cuba the right to trade freely with other countries. This was a big step for Cuba's economy.
Supporting Education
In 1818, Ramírez also helped start the Escuela Gratuita de Dibujo y Pintura (Free School of Drawing and Painting) in Havana. Later, this school was named San Alejandro in his honor. He also became the first person from Latin America to join the American Philosophical Society. This is a famous group that promotes useful knowledge.
Legacy
Alejandro Ramírez left a lasting mark in the places he served. The building for the Department of Treasury in Puerto Rico is named after him. It was built in 1969 and has a statue of Ramírez in front. The statue was created by artist Rafael López del Campo.
In Ponce, a city in Puerto Rico, there is a street named "Calle Intendente Ramírez" in his honor. It is located in a neighborhood called Barrio Sexto, also known as Barrio Cantera.
See also
In Spanish: Alejandro Ramírez Blanco para niños
