José Gautier Benítez
Encyclopedia
José Gautier Benítez is considered Puerto Rico's best poet of the Romantic Era
.
to Rodulfo Gautier and the renowned Puerto Rican poet, Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier
. His great-aunt, Maria Bibiana Benitez
, was also a renowned Puerto Rican poet. Therefore, it was only natural for Gautier Benítez to be in constant contact with the world of literature and to develop a love for poetry at an early age. He was mostly influenced by the exponents of the Romantic poetry of the 19th century.
Gautier Benítez's father wanted him to take up a military career. In 1865, he was sent to military school in San Juan
. When he graduated, he went to Madrid
, Spain, where he continued his military education.
When Gautier Benítez returned to Puerto Rico from Spain, he found a job in the provincial government office. According to his military records, which can be found in the military archive of Segovia, between September 26 and November 8 of 1868, Gautier Benítez fought against the members of the "Revolution Committee of Puerto Rico" involved in "El Grito de Lares
", a short lived independence revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico
.
In 1873 he joined the Liberal Reformist Party. Gautier Benítez became a principal force behind the creation of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. In 1878 he became the co-founder, along with his friend Manuel de Elzabura, of the Puerto Rican Review. That same year he wrote his first poem A Puerto Rico (To Puerto Rico), which was highly acclaimed by his contemporaries as one of his greatest works. A Puerto Rico also received an award from the Ateneo.
. He then retired to his house where he would live until his last days. José Gautier Benítez died in San Juan
, at 32 years of age. He was laid to rest in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
in Old San Juan.
Even though he wrote less than a hundred poems, his works were considered better in quality than the works of other Puerto Rican poets of the time. Gautier Benítez's verses, titled Poemas (Poems) were published posthumously in 1880.
created a monument of Gautier Benítez which can be seen in Caguas. Also in the song "Lamento Borincano" the composer Rafael Hernández
honored Gautier by mentioning him in it, "Borinquen, la tierra del edén. La que al cantar, el gran Gautier llamó la perla de los mares."
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
.
Early years
Gautier Benítez was born in Caguas, Puerto RicoCaguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
to Rodulfo Gautier and the renowned Puerto Rican poet, Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier
Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier
Alejandrina Benítez de GautierThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name "Benítez" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Gautier". is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest poets.-Early years:Benítez de Gautier, born in Mayagüez,...
. His great-aunt, Maria Bibiana Benitez
María Bibiana Benítez
María Bibiana Benítez , was Puerto Rico's first known female poet and one of its first playwrights.-Early years:...
, was also a renowned Puerto Rican poet. Therefore, it was only natural for Gautier Benítez to be in constant contact with the world of literature and to develop a love for poetry at an early age. He was mostly influenced by the exponents of the Romantic poetry of the 19th century.
Gautier Benítez's father wanted him to take up a military career. In 1865, he was sent to military school in San Juan
San 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...
. When he graduated, he went to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, where he continued his military education.
When Gautier Benítez returned to Puerto Rico from Spain, he found a job in the provincial government office. According to his military records, which can be found in the military archive of Segovia, between September 26 and November 8 of 1868, Gautier Benítez fought against the members of the "Revolution Committee of Puerto Rico" involved in "El Grito de Lares
Grito de Lares
El Grito de Lares —also referred as the Lares uprising, the Lares revolt, Lares rebellion or even Lares Revolution—was the first major revolt against Spanish rule and call for independence in Puerto Rico...
", a short lived independence revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
In 1873 he joined the Liberal Reformist Party. Gautier Benítez became a principal force behind the creation of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. In 1878 he became the co-founder, along with his friend Manuel de Elzabura, of the Puerto Rican Review. That same year he wrote his first poem A Puerto Rico (To Puerto Rico), which was highly acclaimed by his contemporaries as one of his greatest works. A Puerto Rico also received an award from the Ateneo.
Later years
In 1879, Gautier Benítez's mother, Alejandrina, died and he also became terminally ill with tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He then retired to his house where he would live until his last days. José Gautier Benítez died in San Juan
San 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...
, at 32 years of age. He was laid to rest in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863 under the auspices of Ignacio Mascaro. The cemetery is located outside...
in Old San Juan.
Even though he wrote less than a hundred poems, his works were considered better in quality than the works of other Puerto Rican poets of the time. Gautier Benítez's verses, titled Poemas (Poems) were published posthumously in 1880.
Poems by Gautier Benítez
Among his works are: A Puerto Rico (Ausencia) (To Puerto Rico (Absence)), A Puerto Rico (Regreso) (To Puerto Rico (Return)) and the following:.- Americana
- El Manzanillo
- Romance
- Oriental
- Zoraida
- Un Sueño
- Los Ojos De T.
- Como Tu Quieras
- Deber De Amar
- Ella y Yo
- El Poeta
- Las Aves De Paso
- INSOMNIO
- La Nave
- La Barca
- Enfermo
- Un Encargo A Mis Amigos
Legacy
Puerto Rico has named avenues and schools after Gautier Benítez. In the city of Caguas there is a high school and a housing project named after Gautier Benítez. The Municipal Island of Vieques honored him by naming its public library the José Gautier Benítez Public Library. In the municipality of Hatillo an elementary school was named after him. The sculptor Tomás BatistaTomás Batista
Tomás Batista is considered by many to be Puerto Rico's greatest sculptor. He is the creator of some of Puerto Rico's most famous monuments.-Early years:...
created a monument of Gautier Benítez which can be seen in Caguas. Also in the song "Lamento Borincano" the composer Rafael Hernández
Rafael Hernández Marín
Rafael Hernández , was one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music during the 20th century.-Early years:...
honored Gautier by mentioning him in it, "Borinquen, la tierra del edén. La que al cantar, el gran Gautier llamó la perla de los mares."
See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....