Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (
November 12,
1826 –
July 19,
1882) was a
poet and
writer from
San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
Tapia is considered to be the father of
Puerto Rican literature and that no one else has contributed more to the cultural advancement of Puerto Rico in literature. In addition to his writing, Rivera was also a fervent
abolitionist and a
women's rights advocate. Rivera received his primary education in San Juan under the guidance of the renowned educator
Rafael Cordero, who was an early inspiration in his life.
Tapia was working for the State Department when a Spanish Army artillery officer challenged him to a
duel, a challenge which he accepted; as a result, Tapia was deported to
Spain. There he completed his studies in literature in
Madrid (
1850-
1852), and joined the
Society of the Recollection of Historical Documents, relating to Puerto Rico.
Tapia organised and filed in order important Puerto Rican
16th and
17th century documents. He published his first important work called
The Historical Library of Puerto Rico relating to those documents and his findings on them.
Tapia was a member of the
Progressive Action Political Party. Among his cultural positions was his membership of the
Puerto Rican Intellectual Protective Society. He was also the director of the
Youth Museum in
Ponce and the founder and first president of the
Ateneo Puertorriqueño.
Among Tapia's many awards and honours were:
*The
Medal of the Royal Knight and
*The
Distinguished Order of Carlos III from Spain.
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera died in the city of San Juan, Puerto in
July 19,
1882 while giving a conference at the Ateneo Puertorriqueño.
His memory has been honoured in Puerto Rico. There are many schools and avenues named after Tapia. The
Teatro Tapia, the premier drama stage, in old San Juan is also named after him.
*
El heliotropo (
1848)
*
The Palm of the Chief (
1852)
*
Guarionex (
libretto, premiered in
1854)
*
José Campeche: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (
1854)
*
Roberto D'Evreux (
1856)
*
Bernardo de Palyssy o El heroísmo del trabajo (
1857)
*
La antigua sirena (
1862)
*
La cuarterona (
1867)
*
Camoens (
1868)
*
Póstumo el transmigrado (
1872)
*
Vasco Núñez de Balboa: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (
1872)
*
Ramón Power: biography by Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (
1873)
*
La leyenda de los veinte años (
1874)
*
La Sataniada (
1874)
*
The Pirate Cofresi (
1876)
*
Misceláneas de Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (
1880)
*
Póstumo el envirginado (
1882)
*
Mis memorias por Alejandro Tapia y Rivera*
List of famous Puerto Ricans
