José Celso Barbosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Celso Barbosa
|
|
|---|---|
Dr. José Celso Barbosa
|
|
| Member of the Executive Cabinet | |
| In office 1900–1917 |
|
| Member of the Puerto Rico Senate from the at-large district |
|
| In office 1917–1921 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 27, 1857 Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Died | September 21, 1921 (aged 64) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | |
| Political party | Puerto Rican Republican Party |
| Spouse | Belén Sánchez y Jimenez |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (MD) |
| Profession |
|
José Celso Barbosa Alcala (born July 27, 1857 – died September 21, 1921) was an important Puerto Rican doctor, sociologist, and political leader. He is often called the "father of the statehood movement" in Puerto Rico. Dr. Barbosa was the first person from Puerto Rico, and one of the first people of African heritage, to earn a medical degree in the United States.
After returning to Puerto Rico in 1880, Barbosa greatly improved medicine and public health. He even started an early type of health insurance. This encouraged employers to pay a small fee to help cover their employees' future medical needs. In 1900, Dr. Barbosa was one of the first five Puerto Rican leaders chosen for the Executive Cabinet. This was part of the first civilian government organized by the United States. He served in this Cabinet until 1917. From 1917 to 1921, Barbosa also served in Puerto Rico's first elected Senate.
Contents
Who Was José Celso Barbosa?
José Celso Barbosa Alcala was a remarkable figure in Puerto Rican history. He was a skilled doctor who cared deeply about people's health. He was also a sociologist, someone who studies how societies work. Beyond that, he became a powerful political leader. His dream was for Puerto Rico to become a state of the United States. This idea earned him the title "father of the statehood movement."
Early Life and Learning
Barbosa was born in 1857 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This city was part of Puerto Rico, which was then under Spanish rule. He completed his early schooling right there in Bayamón. Even though his family had both European and West African roots, he was the first person of African ancestry to attend the respected Jesuit school, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
After finishing school, Barbosa taught private students. He saved money so he could go to college. In 1875, he moved to New York City and quickly learned English in just one year.
Originally, Barbosa wanted to become a lawyer. However, he became sick with pneumonia while in New York City. His doctor suggested that he should study medicine instead. In 1877, he tried to get into the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Sadly, he was not accepted because of his African heritage. He then applied to the University of Michigan medical school and was accepted. He graduated at the top of his class in 1880. Barbosa was the first person from Puerto Rico to earn a medical degree in the United States. He then returned to Puerto Rico and opened his medical practice in Bayamón.
Starting His Medical Career
When Barbosa first returned, the Spanish government in Puerto Rico did not want to recognize his medical degree. This was because it came from an American university, not a European one. The American consul in Puerto Rico stepped in to help. Thanks to this help, Barbosa's U.S. degree was finally recognized, allowing him to practice medicine.
Dr. Barbosa provided medical care to people all over the island. He introduced a new idea: employers could pay a fee to cover their employees' future healthcare needs. This was a very early form of health insurance. In 1893, Barbosa also started the first Puerto Rican cooperative, which he named El Ahorro Colectivo (The Collective Savings).
A Leader in Politics
During the time Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony, Barbosa was part of a political group called the Partido Autonomista Puro. He later left this group because he had different ideas about how things should be run.
In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the United States attacked and surrounded San Juan. Barbosa and other doctors from Bayamón bravely traveled to the capital. They took a ferry across San Juan Bay, even though they were under cannon fire. As a member of the Red Cross, Barbosa went to help the wounded Puerto Rican and Spanish soldiers. For their courage, the Spanish government recommended Barbosa and his group for a special award, the Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Naval.
After the war, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. On July 4, 1899, Barbosa started a new political party. It was called the Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico. This party supported the idea of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state. Because of his strong belief in this, he became known as the father of the statehood movement.
Later Years and Public Service
On June 5, 1900, U.S. President William McKinley chose Barbosa to be part of an Executive Cabinet. This Cabinet was led by Charles H. Allen, the first civilian governor of Puerto Rico. Barbosa was one of five Puerto Rican leaders in this group, which also included six American members. He served in the Executive Cabinet until 1917. During this time, he worked with several different governors appointed by the U.S. and helped keep the government running smoothly.
In 1907, while serving in the Cabinet, Barbosa started a newspaper called El Tiempo. This was the first newspaper on the island that was published in both Spanish and English.
In 1917, Puerto Rico held elections for its own Senate. Barbosa ran for a seat that represented the entire island (an at-large seat). He was elected and served as a member of the first Puerto Rican Senate from 1917 to 1921.
José Celso Barbosa passed away in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 21, 1921. He was laid to rest in the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan. One of his daughters, Pilar Barbosa, became a famous historian. She served as the Official Historian of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 1997. She also continued her father's work as a political activist.
His Lasting Impact
Dr. José Celso Barbosa's contributions are still remembered and honored today:
- Puerto Rico celebrates his birthday, July 27, as an official holiday. It is known as José Celso Barbosa Day.
- His childhood home in Bayamón has been preserved. It is now a historic house museum where visitors can see his awards, books, and other interesting items.
- On August 1, 2006, a Post Office building in Bayamón was named the "Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building." President George W. Bush signed the act for this honor.
- A school in Ponce, Puerto Rico is named after him.
- Avenida José C. Barbosa in Yauco is also named in his honor.
- In East Harlem, New York, an elementary school (P.S. 206M) shares his name.
Family Life
José Celso Barbosa had twelve children. Among them were Roberto C. Barbosa, who became a dentist, and Guillermo H. Barbosa, who became a surgeon. His daughter, Pilar Barbosa de Rosario, became Puerto Rico's first female official historian. She married José Ezequiel Rosario. His cousin Jesus had a daughter named Oddosia "Thea" Barbosa.
See also
In Spanish: José Celso Barbosa para niños
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Pilar Barbosa
 | Claudette Colvin |
 | Myrlie Evers-Williams |
 | Alberta Odell Jones |
