Ramon Power y Giralt

Infobox Military Person
name=Ramon Power y Giralt
lived= October 7, 1775 - June 10, 1813
placeofbirth= San Juan, Puerto Rico
placeofdeath= Cadiz, Spain


caption=Admiral Ramon Power y Giralt
nickname=
allegiance= Spanish Navy
serviceyears=1795-1809
rank=Admiral
commands=
unit=
battles= Santo Domingo against an invasion from French forces
awards=
relations=

Admiral Ramon Power y Giralt (commonly known only as "Ramon Power") (October 7, 1775 - June 10, 1813), was, according to Puerto Rican historian Lidio Cruz Monclova, among the first native born Puerto Ricans to refer to himself as a "Puerto Rican" and to fight for the equal representation of Puerto Rico in front of the parliamentary government of Spain.

Early years

Power was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the city where he received his primary education at a private school. In 1788, when he was 13 years old, he was sent to Bilbao, Spain to continue his educational studies.

panish Naval service

At the age of 17, Power began his studies of Naval sciences in Spain. Upon graduation he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Spanish Navy and eventually rose to the rank of Admiral. He distinguished himself in 1808-1809 with the defense of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo against an invasion from French forces by enforcing a blockade.

Political career

On May 4, 1809, in the midst of Peninsular War and Napoleon Bonaparte's occupation of Spain, Power was elected by the five, local cabildos (town councils) to represent Puerto Rico in the "Junta Suprema Central y Gubernativa del Reino" (Supreme Central and Governing Board of the Kingdom). (In 1808 Napoleon had deposed Ferdinand VII and named his eldest brother, Joseph I, King of Spain. The "Junta Suprema" was leading the resistance against the Bonapartes.) The "Junta Suprema" dissolved itself before Power could arrive, nevertheless, the following year on April 16 he was again elected to represent Puerto Rico, this time in the Spanish Cortes, the parliamentary assembly that had been convened by the Junta and was gathering in the Southern Spanish port of Cádiz. One of his greatest supporters was Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, who during the official farewell mass, gave Power his episcopal ring as a reminder that he should never forget his countrymen. After arriving in Cádiz on June 8, 1810 he joined the growing number of delegates, which finally reached a quorum in September. Power was an avid advocate for Puerto Rico during his tenure (September 24, 1810—June 10, 1813) as a delegate in the Cortes. [Rieu-Millan, Marie Laure. "Los diputados americanos en las Cortes de Cádiz: Igualdad o independencia." Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1990. 41. ISBN 978-8400070915] He was named the first vice-president of the Cortes and succeeded in obtaining powers from the Cortes which would benefit the economy of the Puerto Rico. The most well-known product of the assembly was the Constitution of 1812.

Before the Constitution was written, Power convinced the Cortes to reverse a decree of the Council of Regency which had given the governor of Puerto Rico extraordinary powers in reaction to the establishment of juntas in South America. [González Vales, Luis, "Towards a Plantation Society" in Arturo Morales Carrión. "Puerto Rico: A Political History". (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1983), 83-88. ISBN 0-393-30193-1] The highlight of his legislative career was the "Ley Power" ("the Power Act"), which designated five ports for free commerce—Fajardo, Mayagüez, Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo and Ponce, established the the reduction of most tariffs and eliminated the flour monopoly, in addition to establishing other economic reforms with the goal of developing a more efficient economy. It also called for the establishment of a "Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País" on the island, which was approved in 1814. Many of these reforms remained in effect even after Ferdinand VII revoked the Spanish Constitution. [cite web|title= Aspectos políticos en Puerto Rico: 1765–1837|url=http://www.proyectosalonhogar.com/Diversos_Temas/Aspectos_politicos.htm|accessdate=March 4|accessyear=2006 es icon]

Power y Giralt died while still in Cádiz (he would be succeeded in the Cortes by José María Quiñones who served from November 25, 1813—May 10, 1814) [Rieu-Millan, Marie Laure. "Los diputados americanos en las Cortes de Cádiz: Igualdad o independencia." 41] on June 10, 1813 from the yellow fever epidemic which had spread throughout Europe. According to "The San Juan Star" (Puerto Rico's English language newspaper), there is a movement underway to bring Power's remains back to Puerto Rico. Power's remains are located in a common grave, along with other delegates' to the Cortes, at the Oratorio San Felipe Neri in Cadiz. DNA testing is currently underway to identify the remains.

Honors and tributes

Puerto Rico has honored Power's memory by naming avenues and schools after him. His former residence was restored and currently houses the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust in Old San Juan. Power's contemporary, José Campeche, honored him in a painting entitled "The Shipwreck of Power". Graphic artist Lorenzo Homar has also dedicated one of his artistic works to Ramon Power.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

* [http://www.zonai.com/promociones/biografias/1001/index.asp El Nuevo Dia]