Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera | |
|---|---|
| Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – November 15, 1916 | |
| Preceded by | Tulio Larrínaga |
| Succeeded by | Félix Córdova Dávila |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 17, 1859 Barranquitas, Puerto Rico |
| Died | November 15, 1916 (aged 57) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Resting place | Muñoz Rivera Family Mausoleum in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Liberal Reformist (Before 1904) Unionist (1904–1916) |
| Spouse | Amalia Marín Castilla |
| Children | Luis Muñoz Marín |
Luis Muñoz Rivera (July 17, 1859 – November 15, 1916) was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy of Puerto Rico in union with Spain.
In 1887, Muñoz Rivera became part of the leadership of a newly formed Autonomist Party. In 1889, he successfully ran a campaign for the position of delegate in the district of Caguas. Subsequently, Muñoz Rivera was a member of a group organized by the party to discuss proposals of autonomy with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, who would grant Puerto Rico an autonomous government following his election. He served as Chief of the Cabinet of this government.
On August 13, 1898, the Treaty of Paris transferred possession of Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States and a military government was established. In 1899, Muñoz Rivera resigned his position within the cabinet and remained inactive in politics for some time. In 1909, he was elected as Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and participated in the creation of the Jones-Shafroth Act, proposing amendments before its final approval. Shortly after, Muñoz Rivera contracted an infection and traveled to Puerto Rico, where he died on November 15, 1916. His son, Luis Muñoz Marín would subsequently become involved in politics, becoming the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.