Emilio Núñez was a Cuban-American soldier, dentist, and politician .

He graduated in 1889 from the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...

 and was a dental surgeon in Philadelphia.

At an early age, he joined he Cuban Revolutionary Army and fought in the "Guerra de Diez Años" (Ten Years' War

Ten Years' War

The Ten Years' War , also known as the Great War and the War of '68, began on October 10, 1868 when sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain...

) attaining the rank of colonel . He was captured and imprisoned in El Morro Castle where he escaped , and returned to organize a rebel group to operate in San Diego del Valle until 1880 when José Martí

José Martí

José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...

 convinced him that Cuban independence was not feasible at the moment.

Núñez then went into exile where he collaborated closely with Marti and becamee a naturlized U.S. citizen. From the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 he sent arms, ammunition and food to Cuba as Commander in Chief of the Department of Expeditions until 1885. He became a Major-General in the Cuban War of Independence

Cuban War of Independence

Cuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...

. He organized armed revolutionary expeditions from the United States.
He was one of 31 delegates in the Cuban Constitutional Convention of 1900

1901 Constitution of Cuba

1901 Constitution of Cuba was the constitution used in Cuba from May 20, 1902 until it was replaced by the 1940 Constitution of Cuba. A constitutional convention was called by Leonard Wood, the U.S. military governor of Cuba. On November 5, 1900, the 6 provinces sent delegates to the convention...

. He was the Civil 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 the Province of Havana from 1899–1902 and was the first person to hoist flag of Cuba

Flag of Cuba

The flag of Cuba was adopted on May 20, 1902, containing a field with three blue stripes and two white stripes, and a red equilateral triangle at the hoist with a white 5-pointed star....

 at El Morro Castle on May 20, 1902 at noon.

Núñez served as Cuban Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor in 1913 and as Vice President of Cuba from 1917-1921 .

Family

Núñez was the son of Bernardo Núñez y Perez-Labrador and Eulalia Rodriguez y Otero. He was married to Dolores Portoundo y Blez and they had six children: Bernardo (1886–1967), Julia (1888–1974), Maria Estrella (1890–1926), Ricardo (1893–1973), Emilio Núñez Portuondo

Emilio Núñez Portuondo

Emilio Núñez Portuondo was a Cuban politician, lawyer, and diplomat. He was Prime Minister of Cuba in 1958....

(1898–1978) and America (1903–1964).