Amparo de Zeledón

Amparo de Zeledón (: 7 August 1870 – 20 April 1951) was a Cuban botanist, social activist and philanthropist. Zeledón was the first female botanist in Costa Rica and spent the end of her life in Honduras.

Family Amparo López Calleja was born on 7 August 1870 in Nuevitas, Captaincy General of Cuba (present-day Cuba) to María Isabel Pereira Falcón and Francisco López-Calleja Pereira. Both of Zeledón's parents were Asturians who had migrated to Cuba. Zeledón and her family emigrated due to the dangers associated with independence activism, moving to Jamaica, then to Panama and finally Costa Rica. They settled in the Costa Rican city of Puntarenas.

Philanthropy and activism Zeledón was a member of the board of directors of the National Children's Board. In 1913, she was a founder member and the director of the Drop of milk [ es] charity, which aimed to reduce the rates of infant and child mortality by providing milk and medical care for poor children.

In 1923, Zeledón donated 300₡ towards public education. She was also involved with a Juvenile Reformatory for girls, which promoted education and guidance for offending minors, to promote their reintegration into society, after Zeledón encouraged the institution to move away from a prison concept.

Personal life On 8 May 1895, Zeledón married the Costa Rican ornithologist José Castulo Zeledón. She was buried in Tegucigalpa, before her remains were repatriated to Costa Rica for reburial in Cartago.