José Celso Barbosa

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Dr. José Celso Barbosa
Member of the Executive Cabinet
In office 1900 – 1917
Member of the Senate
In office 1917 – 1921
Born	27 July 1857(1857-07-27) Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Died	21 September 1921 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Political party	Puerto Rican Republican Party
Spouse	Belén Sánchez
Children	Twelve (12)
Alma mater	Medical School of the University of Michigan
Profession	Medical physician, sociologist, and political leader of Puerto Rico

House where Dr. Barbosa was born

Dr. José Celso Barbosa (July 27, 1857 – September 21, 1921) was a medical Physician, sociologist, and political leader of Puerto Rico. Known as "The father of the Statehood for Puerto Rico movement", Barbosa was also the first Puerto Rican with an American (United States) medical degree.

Early years

He was born in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Barbosa received both his primary and secondary education in Puerto Rico. He was also the first racially-mixed resident to attend Puerto Rico's prestigious Jesuit Seminary. After graduating from the Seminary, Barbosa tutored private students to save money to attend college. In 1875, he moved to New York to attend prep school where he learned English in a year.^[1]

His goal in life was to become a lawyer, but after a bout with pneumonia in NYC, his doctor recommended he study medicine rather than law. In 1877, he was admitted to the medical school of the University of Michigan. Barbosa graduated Valedictorian of the class of 1880. He returned to the island where he set up his practice in his native hometown.^[2]

First Puerto Rican with an American medical degree

However, the Spanish government did not recognize Barbosa's medical degree as it was not from one of the European universities. It took the intervention of the American consul to the island for Barbosa's degree to be recognized. Barbosa was the first person in the entire island with an American medical degree. Barbosa practiced medicine all over the island, and introduced the novel idea of employers paying a fee for the future health care needs of their employees (a very early health insurance system). In 1893, Barbosa founded the first Puerto Rican cooperative and named it "El Ahorro Colectivo".^[1]

Political career

Barbosa was a member of the Autonomous Party led by Román Baldorioty de Castro but left the party because of ideological differences.

In 1898, when the United States bombarded and blockaded San Juan during the Spanish American War Barbosa together with other doctors who lived in Bayamon, traveled to the town of Cataño and boarded a ferry headed towards San Juan. Barbosa, as member of the Red Cross, went to the aid of the wounded Puerto Rican and Spanish soldiers. The ferry trip which crossed the Bay was dangerous since they came close to being hit by cannon fire. Barbosa and those with him were recommended by the Spanish government to be decorated with the Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Naval (The Naval Cross of the Order of Merit) for their bravery.^[3]

On July 4, 1899, Barbosa formed the pro-statehood Puerto Rican Republican Party as an aftermath of the Spanish-American War in which Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. He became known as the father of the "Statehood for Puerto Rico" movement.^[4]

Later years

Bust of Dr. Barbosa

On June 5, 1900, President William McKinley named Barbosa, together with Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, José de Diego, Manuel Camuñas and Andrés Crosas to an Executive Cabinet under U.S. appointed Governor Charles H. Allen. The Executive Cabinet also included six American members.^[5] Barbosa served in Executive Cabinet until 1917 and as a member of the Puerto Rican Senate from 1917 to 1921. In 1907, he established the newspaper "El Tiempo", the first bilingual newspaper on the island. José Celso Barbosa died in San Juan on September 21, 1921. He was laid to rest in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan. His daughter Pilar Barbosa would one day become a renowned historian and a political activist who would carry on her father's work.^[6]

Recognition

Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa
Post Office Building Designation Act

In honour of Barbosa's accomplishments, Puerto Rico has declared his birthday, July 27, an official holiday. Barbosa's house in Bayamón has been converted into a museum in which many of his awards, certificates, books and other artifacts of interest are exhibited.^[7] On July 20, 2006 the House of Representatives approved the Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building Designation Act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Avenida RL Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as the Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building. On August 1, 2006, the President of the United States, George W. Bush signed the bill. It's now Public Law 109-253.^[8]