Demetrio Castillo Duany
Encyclopedia
Demetrio Castillo Duany (born November 17, 1856 in Santiago de Cuba
- November 27, 1922 in Santiago de Cuba) was a Cuba
n revolutionary
, soldier, and politician
. He fought in the Cuban Independence
and Spanish-American
wars.
Demetrio Castillo Duany was born into one of the leading families of the eastern region of Cuba and went for education to France
. After spend ing some years at the Lycée of Bordeaux he went on to the United States where he gave himself to the study of English and entered an established business house. In 1878, at the age of twenty-two, he returned to Santiago de Cuba to take charge of the interests of his mother. A year late the outbreak of the "little war" obliged him to emigrate to the United States where he remained until 1885.
The outbreak of the War of Independence in 1895 found him ready for the final struggle and he devoted himself to it without reserve. He joined the Revolutionary forces under Victoriano Garzón, was soon transferred to the staff of José Maceo and saw much arduous service under that redoubtable chief. His valor and enterprise brought him rapid advancement. He became Lieutenant Colonel after the actions of Yerba de Guinea and la Curia and became Colonel after the battles at El Triunfo and Sao del Indio. Three days before the fatal encounter of Loma de Gato in which Maceo lost his life he promoted Duany to the rank of Brigadier General.
When the United States entered the war against Spain
, General Garcia selected Brigadier General Duany to confer with the American commanders and arrange for cooperation with them. In fulfillment of this commission General Duany conferred with Admiral Sampson on board the battleship New York to concert plans for the landing of American troops and to provide for joint action with the Cuban forces. Under his command the Cubans captured Siboney
and thus reduced the risk of the disembarkation of the American force. He continued to cooperate with the Americans throughout the remainder of the war.
He also opened a business school in New York and was in the Cuban Presidents cabinet heading War & Navy.
When hostilities ceased he turned to politics. In 1898 he was named Governor
of Santiago de Cuba and was later appointed Civil Governor of the Eastern Province under the American Intervention. He was one of the founders of the Republican party in Oriente which later merged with the Liberal party. In 1906 he was associated with the Revolutionary Committee and was arrested and imprisoned until the arrival of the American commissioners, who released him. Soon thereafter Governor Charles Magoon appointed him Chief of the Penitentiary of the Republic. In consequence of the Revolution of 1916–1917 he retired from office and resumed the life of a private citizen.
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
- November 27, 1922 in Santiago de Cuba) was a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
, soldier, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He fought in the Cuban Independence
War of Independence
A war of independence is a conflict occurring over a territory that has declared independence. Once the state that previously held the territory sends in military forces to assert its sovereignty or the native population clashes with the former occupier, a separatist rebellion has begun...
and Spanish-American
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
wars.
Demetrio Castillo Duany was born into one of the leading families of the eastern region of Cuba and went for education to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. After spend ing some years at the Lycée of Bordeaux he went on to the United States where he gave himself to the study of English and entered an established business house. In 1878, at the age of twenty-two, he returned to Santiago de Cuba to take charge of the interests of his mother. A year late the outbreak of the "little war" obliged him to emigrate to the United States where he remained until 1885.
The outbreak of the War of Independence in 1895 found him ready for the final struggle and he devoted himself to it without reserve. He joined the Revolutionary forces under Victoriano Garzón, was soon transferred to the staff of José Maceo and saw much arduous service under that redoubtable chief. His valor and enterprise brought him rapid advancement. He became Lieutenant Colonel after the actions of Yerba de Guinea and la Curia and became Colonel after the battles at El Triunfo and Sao del Indio. Three days before the fatal encounter of Loma de Gato in which Maceo lost his life he promoted Duany to the rank of Brigadier General.
When the United States entered the war against Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, General Garcia selected Brigadier General Duany to confer with the American commanders and arrange for cooperation with them. In fulfillment of this commission General Duany conferred with Admiral Sampson on board the battleship New York to concert plans for the landing of American troops and to provide for joint action with the Cuban forces. Under his command the Cubans captured Siboney
Siboney, Cuba
Siboney is a town in Cuba east of the city of Santiago de Cuba. In 1898 Siboney and the nearby village of Daiquirí were locations where American forces came ashore in the Spanish-American War...
and thus reduced the risk of the disembarkation of the American force. He continued to cooperate with the Americans throughout the remainder of the war.
He also opened a business school in New York and was in the Cuban Presidents cabinet heading War & Navy.
When hostilities ceased he turned to politics. In 1898 he was named Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Santiago de Cuba and was later appointed Civil Governor of the Eastern Province under the American Intervention. He was one of the founders of the Republican party in Oriente which later merged with the Liberal party. In 1906 he was associated with the Revolutionary Committee and was arrested and imprisoned until the arrival of the American commissioners, who released him. Soon thereafter Governor Charles Magoon appointed him Chief of the Penitentiary of the Republic. In consequence of the Revolution of 1916–1917 he retired from office and resumed the life of a private citizen.
Sources
- Direccion Provincial de Cultura - Día 17. Nace en Santiago de Cuba el patriota Demetrio Castillo Duany at www.cultstgo.cult.cu
- Count of Duany http://www.irlandeses.org/0711fernandezmoya1.htm
- History book Castillo Duany University of Miami
- Hewitt PhD thesis
- nytimes.com
- books.google.com