Puerto Rican Volunteers Corps

The Puerto Rican Volunteers Corps (Instituto de Voluntarios de Puerto Rico in Spanish) was a militia composed of private citizens, principally instituted for the defense of Puerto Rico from foreign invasion and local uprisings. Following the example of Cuba, this militia was first established in December 1864 in order to fill the void left by the units of the local garrison sent to the war in Santo Domingo (1863–1865). After a few first years of barely any activity, several Volunteer units were created across the island as a result of the Grito de Lares, the incipient first outcry for independence in Puerto Rico of September 23, 1868. In principle, the volunteers were characterized by their unwavering loyalty to the Spanish Crown, and as such were closely associated to the Partido Incondicionalmente Español (The Spanish Unconditional Party). This party was opened to all Spaniards, both Creoles and peninsulares (from mainland Spain), but the latter played a prominent role providing many of its leaders and ranks. Many in the island's elite joined the Volunteers as a symbol of social status and loyalty to Spain (e.g., Manuel Egozcue Cintrón, Rafael Janer y Soler, Francisco J. Marxuach, Pompeyo Oliu y Marxuach, Narciso Vall-Llovera Feliu, etc.).