Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Martí, José Julián

MARTÍ, José Julián, Cuban patriot, b. in Havana, 28 Jan., 1853; d. at Dos Rios, Cuba, 19 May, 1895. His earlier education he received in his native city, but this was cut short in 1868 by his having been made a political presidiario. He was obliged to work in the quarries in the garb and chains of a convict, and afterward was sent to Spain. He continued his studies at Madrid and Saragossa, and graduated as a lawyer in the latter city in 1876. Señor Martí was a close student of the history of both Americas, and always upheld the capacity of Spanish America to reach unaided such a state of prosperity as would secure the permanent and friendly respect of all other nations. Twice he was a prisoner in Spain, and as often he escaped. For Cuba he demanded absolute liberty and separation from Spain. A good conversationalist and an orator of power, he led his countrymen in the cause of liberty, and has been looked to by them as the “soul” and creator of the recent Cuban revolution. He did not live to see the fruits of his labor, but was killed in battle with the Spaniards at Dos Rios. Apart from his political activities he was a noted teacher, journalist, and poet; was at one time professor of philosophy and literature in the University of Guatemala, New York consul for Uruguay, Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic, and later consul-general for the Argentine Republic, and a member of the Pan-American oongress held In Washington. He contributed regularly to a number of journals, translated into Spanish Helen H. Jackson's novel “Ramona” (1888), published “Ismaelillo,” a small volume of poems, and a book on Guatemala, and wrote several plays. He founded the newspaper “La Patria,” which is still published in New York.