Salvador de Vives Rodó (1784 – 24 November 1845), also known as Salvador Vives, was a Puerto Rican

hacendado An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

and

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of Ponce,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

, from 1 January 1840 to 5 January 1842 and then again from 1 January 1844 to 24 November 1845. His son, Carlos Vives, was a member of the Ponce Municipal Assembly.

Background

Vives Rodó was the son of Quirse Vives and Ana Maria Rodó. He was a wealthy coffee plantation owner who established the now historic

Hacienda Buena Vista Hacienda Buena Vista, also known as Hacienda Vives (or Buena Vista Plantation in English language, English), was a coffee plantation located in Barrio Magueyes, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The original plantation dates from the 19th century. The planta ...

First mayoral term (1840)

In 1840, Vives named the two central plazas in downtown Ponce "

Plaza Las Delicias Plaza Las Delicias is the main plaza in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various monuments it contains. The historic Parque de Bombas and Ponce Cathedral buildings are located within the plaza, ...

"; up to that point the two plazas were called Plaza Mayor (which came to be known as

Plaza Degetau Plaza Degetau, formally Plaza Federico Degetau, is the larger of two plazas at Plaza Las Delicias, the main city square in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The other plaza is named Plaza Muñoz Rivera and is located north of Plaza Degetau. The ...

) and Paseo de la Alameda (which was later renamed

Plaza Munoz Rivera A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...

). Also, under Vives' administration as

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

, the

Ponce City Hall The Ponce City Hall ( es, Casa Alcaldía de Ponce) is a historic city hall in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located it the center of the city, on Calle Degetau, across from Plaza Degetau in the Ponce Historic Zone. The building serves as the seat ...

was built in 1842. De Vives trusted the design of City Hall to prominent architect Francisco Gil Capó. The trees in

are due to De Vives' direction.

Second mayoral term (1844)

Vives also led the city as mayor from 1 January 1844 until his death on 24 November 1845.

Legacy

One of Ponce's main thoroughfares (Calle Vives) is named after him. "The street was named by proclamation of the city council in 1863."''Buena Vista: life and work on a Puerto Rican hacienda, 1833-1904.''
Page 81. Guillermo A. Baralt. Fideicomiso de Conservación de Puerto Rico. 1988. Retrieved 13 July 2011.

Footnotes

References