Gilberto Owen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gilberto Owen Estrada
Born	May 13, 1904 Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico
Died	March 9, 1952 (aged 47) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genre	poems
Spouse	Cecilia Salazar Roldán
Children	2

Gilberto Owen Estrada (born May 13, 1904 – died March 9, 1952) was a Mexican poet and diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Owen is known for his unique poems and his work with a famous group of writers called Los Contemporáneos.

Gilberto Owen's Early Life

Gilberto Owen was born in Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico, on May 13, 1904. His mother was Margarita Estrada. He spent his early years in Toluca from 1919 to 1923. There, he studied at the Instituto Científico y Literario.

In 1923, he moved to Mexico City. He started working for the government in the office of the President, General Álvaro Obregón. He worked there from 1923 to 1928. He also studied at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria.

Joining Los Contemporáneos

During this time, Gilberto Owen met many important writers and artists. He joined a famous group called Los Contemporáneos (The Contemporaries). This group included writers like Salvador Novo, Xavier Villaurrutia, and Jaime Torres Bodet. Owen also wrote for their magazine, "Ulises," in 1926.

Life as a Diplomat

In July 1928, Gilberto Owen became a diplomat for the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). This meant he lived and worked in other countries for most of his life.

He first lived in the United States. Later, he moved to Peru and Ecuador. By the end of 1932, he was in Colombia. In Colombia, he worked as a journalist and translated newspaper articles. He wrote for the newspaper "El Tiempo" from 1933 to 1935. His writings covered topics like politics and daily life in Latin America.

On December 2, 1935, he married Cecilia Salazar Roldán in Bogotá, Colombia. She was the daughter of a Colombian general.

Return to Mexico

After his marriage ended, Gilberto Owen returned to Mexico in 1942. He began writing for a magazine called "El hijo pródigo." In the late 1940s, he faced serious health issues. He was then transferred to the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, where he worked as a vice-consul.

Gilberto Owen passed away on March 9, 1952, at the age of 47. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. His family could not arrange for his body to be returned to Mexico.

Today, a literature prize is given out in his name to honor his contributions to poetry.

Gilberto Owen's Works

Gilberto Owen wrote many poems and some prose. Here are some of his notable works:

See also

In Spanish: Gilberto Owen para niños