Porfirio Rubirosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Porfirio Rubirosa
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Rubirosa with his final wife, Odile Rodin
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| Born |
Porfirio Rubirosa Ariza
January 22, 1909 San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic
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| Died | July 5, 1965 (aged 56) Paris, France
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| Occupation | Diplomat, polo player, race car driver |
| Spouse(s) |
Flor de Oro Trujillo
(m. 1932; div. 1937)Odile Rodin
(m. 1956) |
Porfirio Rubirosa Ariza (born January 22, 1909 – died July 5, 1965) was a famous person from the Dominican Republic. He worked as a diplomat, which means he represented his country in other nations. He was also known for being a race car driver, a soldier, and a polo player.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Porfirio Rubirosa Ariza was born in 1909 in San Francisco de Macorís, a city in the Dominican Republic. He was the youngest of three children in an upper-middle-class family. His parents were Pedro María Rubirosa and Ana Ariza Almánzar.
His father, Pedro Rubirosa, was a diplomat. When Porfirio was young, his father became the head of the Dominican Embassy in Paris in 1915. Because of this, Porfirio grew up in Paris, France. When he was 17, he returned to the Dominican Republic. He first planned to study law but soon decided to join the military instead.
Life as a Diplomat
In 1931, Rubirosa met Rafael Trujillo, who was the leader of the Dominican Republic at the time. Trujillo was impressed by Rubirosa and made him a lieutenant in his special guard. This meeting was very important for Rubirosa's future.
In 1936, Rubirosa became a diplomat for the Dominican Republic. This job allowed him to travel the world. He worked in embassies in many cities, including Berlin, Paris, Buenos Aires, Rome, Havana, and Brussels. He also often visited places like New York and Washington in the United States.
Rubirosa was known for being charming and good at making connections. He moved easily among famous and wealthy people. His diplomatic career continued even after he divorced Trujillo's daughter in 1938. Trujillo saw Rubirosa as a valuable person for his government.
After Trujillo's death in 1961, Rubirosa's diplomatic career ended. He lost his special protection as a diplomat.
Personal Life and Marriages
Porfirio Rubirosa was known for being very charming and was linked to many famous women. He was married five times, but he never had any children.
His wives were:
- Flor de Oro Trujillo, who was the eldest daughter of Rafael Trujillo. They were married from 1932 to 1937.
- Danielle Darrieux, a French actress. They were married from 1942 to 1947.
- Doris Duke, a very wealthy American heiress. Their marriage lasted from 1947 to 1948. After their divorce, he received gifts and financial support.
- Barbara Hutton, another wealthy American heiress. They were married for a short time, from 1953 to 1954. He also received gifts and financial support from this marriage.
- Odile Rodin, a French actress. They married in 1956 and stayed together until his death in 1965.
Polo and Car Racing
After World War II, Rubirosa developed a strong interest in two expensive sports: polo and car racing. His wives often helped him pay for these hobbies.
He created and led his own polo team called Cibao-La Pampa. This team often won the Coupe de France polo championship. Rubirosa continued to play polo throughout his life.
Around the same time, he started buying fast cars and became friends with professional race car drivers. He owned several Ferrari cars. He raced in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race twice, in 1950 and 1954, but his car did not finish either time. He also took part in several races at Sebring International Raceway.
Rubirosa even planned to race in a Formula One event in 1955, the Grand Prix de Bordeaux. He was going to drive his own Ferrari car, but he became sick before the race and could not compete.
Death
Porfirio Rubirosa died on July 5, 1965, when he was 56 years old. He was driving his silver Ferrari 250 GT convertible in the Bois de Boulogne park in Paris. He crashed into a tree after celebrating all night at a nightclub. He had just won the Coupe de France polo championship. He is buried in a cemetery in Marnes la Coquette, near Paris.
Images for kids
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Zsa Zsa Gabor and Porfirio Rubirosa, circa 1954
See also
In Spanish: Porfirio Rubirosa para niños
