Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
1826–1881 (age 55)
Writer/Journalist
Biography
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, the father of Puerto Rican literature, used his pen to nurture a budding national consciousness through poetry, plays, and advocacy that celebrated the island’s culture and history.
He championed education and civic reform, and after his death in 1881 his remains were placed in Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery where visitors continue to honor his enduring voice.