Enrique Loynaz del Castillo

Enrique Loynaz del Castillo (June 5, 1871 – February 10, 1963) was a Dominican-born Cuban general and independence activist of the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was known for his service in the Cuban War of Independence, participating in the battles of Mal Tiempo and Paso de las Damas.

Origin Enrique was born on June 5, 1871, at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. His parents, Enrique Loynaz y Arteaga and Juana del Castillo y Bethancourt were Cubans which resided at the revolutionary delegation at the city. He would be educated and would graduate with a bachelor's degree in science and writing, going on to later become a professor. His father was a veteran of the Ten Years' War, notably being the Captain of the schooner Galvanic.

Interwar Period In 1885, Loynaz participated in an expedition to Cuba with generals Serafín Sánchez and Francisco Carrillo Morales where he would meet and come to know Máximo Gómez. In January 1895, he participated in the organization of the Fernandina Plan.

He was secretary of the police force, under the orders of Major General Mario García Menocal (1899-1902). He served as a representative to the chamber for Camagüey, from 1902 to 1906. In the uprising against the re-election of President Tomás Estrada Palma, he was one of the main figures against re-election. Arrested on August 19, 1906, he managed to escape and assume command of the rebel forces in the provinces of La Habana and Matanzas. He led the battles at Babiney-Colorado on September 5, 1906, and El Wajay on September 14, 1906, where he was wounded by a machete to the head. Two days later, on the 16th, he was officially proclaimed with the rank of Major General by the rebel forces.

He served as Cuba's ambassador to Mexico from 1908 to 1911. He participated in the uprising of the Liberals against the re-election of President Mario García Menocal in February 1917. In 1928 he was the ambassador to Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. On his return to Cuba he fought the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado. He participated in the uprising of the Havana police force on August 12, 1933. Reincorporated into the diplomatic service, he was ambassador to Panama and Venezuela. In the final years of his life, he worked as an advisor to the Ministry of State from where he was public opposed to the regime of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. He later wrote the work Memorias de la Guerra. He retired from active life in 1947.

He died in Havana on February 10, 1963, at the age of 91.

Dates of rank