Dr. Manuel Antonio Alonso Pacheco (October 6, 1822 – November 4, 1889) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, journalist and physician. He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance.

Early years

Alonso was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His father Juan Francisco Alonso was a Galician soldier and his mother María de África de Pacheco was a native of Ceuta of Spanish origin. He received his primary education in Caguas and in the Ildefonso Seminary in San Juan. Alonso then went to the City of Barcelona, Spain where he enrolled in the University of Barcelona to study medicine. He finished his medical studies in 1844 and practiced his profession in Barcelona.

Works

In 1845, he published a book called "El Gíbaro" ("The

Jíbaro Jivaro or Jibaro, also spelled Hivaro or Hibaro, may refer to: * Jíbaro (Puerto Rico), mountain-dwelling peasants in Puerto Rico * Jíbaro music, a Puerto Rican musical genre * Jivaroan peoples The Jivaroan peoples are the indigenous peoples ...

"). "El Gíbaro" was a collection of verses whose main themes were the humble Puerto Rican subsistence farmer and the customs of Puerto Rico.

Return to Puerto Rico

In 1848, Alonso returned to Puerto Rico and set up his medical office in the City of Caguas. He also became the director of the House of Benefit of

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...

, until the day of his death. In collaboration with other notable writers of the day, he published the "Album Puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rican Album), which was the second

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...

of poems to be published in the island. Alonso died in the City of San Juan on November 4, 1889. He was buried at

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery __NOTOC__ The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863 under ...

in San Juan.

Poet and journalist

As a writer, poet and journalist he derived his inspiration from anything that had to do with love and his country. Alonso cultivated his verses and gave them a touch festivality. Alonso was also a member of the Liberal Reform movement in Puerto Rico and directed that organizations publication, (The Agent). Among his poems are: * "", about Antonio de los Reyes Correa * * * * * * * * * * *

Short stories

Some of the short stories Alonso wrote include: * * * * * * * * Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming schools and public buildings after him.

References