Jose Andino y Amezquita
Encyclopedia
José Andino y Amezquita (March 24, 1751–1835) was a Nationalist and the first Puerto Rican
journalist
.
into a prominent and wealthy family. He was a direct descendant of Captain Juan de Amezquita
, a Puerto Rican soldier who defended Puerto Rico from an invasion by the Dutch
in 1625. He was also the great-grandson of Field Marshal
Gaspar Martinez De Andino, a Spaniard who was appointed by the Spanish Crown Governor of Puerto Rico and served as such from 1683 to 1685.
Andino y Amezquita received his elementary education in Puerto Rico and in 1765, was sent to Granada, Spain, where he continued his academic education at the "Colegio de Nobles Americanos" (College of Noble Americans), a military preparatory school. Andino y Amezquita served in the Spanish Army and eventually reached the rank of Captain. He was a person of strong temperament and his disagreements with his fellow officers led to his resignation from the military in 1787.
. Andino y Amézquita died in his farm in 1835.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Early years
Andino y Amezquita was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
into a prominent and wealthy family. He was a direct descendant of Captain Juan de Amezquita
Juan de Amezquita
Captain Juan de Amezquita , was a Puerto Rican soldier who defended Puerto Rico from an invasion by the Dutch in 1625. He fought and wounded Captain Balduino Enrico who was ordered by the Dutch Government to capture Puerto Rico.-Early years:Amezquita was born and raised in the town of San...
, a Puerto Rican soldier who defended Puerto Rico from an invasion by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1625. He was also the great-grandson of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Gaspar Martinez De Andino, a Spaniard who was appointed by the Spanish Crown Governor of Puerto Rico and served as such from 1683 to 1685.
Andino y Amezquita received his elementary education in Puerto Rico and in 1765, was sent to Granada, Spain, where he continued his academic education at the "Colegio de Nobles Americanos" (College of Noble Americans), a military preparatory school. Andino y Amezquita served in the Spanish Army and eventually reached the rank of Captain. He was a person of strong temperament and his disagreements with his fellow officers led to his resignation from the military in 1787.
Return to Puerto Rico
In 1793, Andino y Amezquita returned to Puerto Rico and was named Royal Minister of Internal Revenue Department. In 1813, he founded the "Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País" (Economic Society of Friends of the Nation), an organization which recognized the artistic talents of the local residents in contests in which those who participated were given monetary prizes.First Puerto Rican journalist
In 1814, Andino y Amézquita was named director of El Diario Económico de Puerto Rico (The Economic Daily of Puerto Rico), the first privately owned newspaper in the island. He wrote articles on the subjects related to agriculture, commerce, economy and other socioeconomic-related subjects, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican journalist. As a journalist, he proposed the establishment of a National Bank and was able to express and share his nationalistic views. As a journalist for the newspaper El Eco, Andino y Amézquita exhorted his readers to vote during elections for native-born Puerto Ricans instead of candidates born in Spain.Later years
Upon his retirement, Andino y Amézquita would spend his last years in his farm "La Campaña" in the town of Carolina, Puerto RicoCarolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
. Andino y Amézquita died in his farm in 1835.
Further reading
- "Colecciones Puertorriqueñas" (Spanish only), Biografías; Ediciones México, 1985, Publicado por Lizette