José Celso Barbosa

José Celso Barbosa Alcala (July 27, 1857 – September 21, 1921) was a Puerto Rican physician, sociologist and political leader. Known as the father of the statehood movement in Puerto Rico, Barbosa was the first Puerto Rican, and one of the first people of African descent, to earn a medical degree in the United States.

After his return to the island in 1880, Barbosa made many contributions to medicine and public health. He initiated an early form of health insurance, encouraging employers to pay a fee to cover the future needs of their employees. In 1900, Barbosa was among the first five Puerto Rican leaders appointed to the Executive Cabinet under Governor Charles H. Allen, in the first civilian government organized by the United States. He served in the Cabinet until 1917. From 1917 to 1921, Barbosa served in the first elected Puerto Rican Senate.

Early life and education Barbosa was born in 1857 in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico where he received both his primary and secondary education. Though he was a product of European and west African lineages, Celso y Barbosa was the first person of any African ancestry to attend Puerto Rico's prestigious Jesuit seminary, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in San Juan. After graduating, Barbosa tutored private students to save money to attend college. In 1875, he moved to New York City to attend prep school, where he learned English in a year. left Originally Barbosa wished to become a lawyer, but after he suffered a bout of pneumonia in New York City, his doctor recommended that he study medicine. In 1877 he applied but was denied admission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, due to his African heritage . He then applied and was admitted to the medical school of the University of Michigan, where he graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1880. Barbosa was the first person from Puerto Rico to earn a medical degree in the United States.

Early career The Spanish colonial government initially did not recognize Barbosa's medical degree, as it was not from a known European university. The American consul to the island intervened on behalf of Barbosa to have his United States degree recognized, so that he could practice.

In 1898, when the United States bombarded and blockaded San Juan during the Spanish–American War, Barbosa and other doctors who lived in Bayamón traveled to the town of Cataño and took a ferry to the capital. Barbosa, as a member of the Red Cross, went to the aid of the wounded Puerto Rican and Spanish soldiers. He and his party on the ferry had to travel across San Juan Bay at risk, as they were under cannon fire. Barbosa and those with him were recommended by the Spanish government for the Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Naval (The Cross of the Order of Naval Merit) for their bravery.

As a result of the war, the United States made Puerto Rico one of its territories. On July 4, 1899, Barbosa formed the pro-statehood Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico. He became known as the father of the statehood for Puerto Rico movement. Barbosa served on the Executive Cabinet until 1917, dealing with a variety of governors appointed by the US during that period, and providing continuity in administration.

During this period, in 1907 he founded the newspaper El Tiempo, the first bilingual newspaper published on the island. Barbosa's house in Bayamón has been preserved and is operated as a historic house museum. Many of his awards, certificates, books and other artifacts of interest are on exhibit. On August 1, 2006, the United States Postal Service Post Office at 100 Avenida RL Rodriguez in Bayamón was named as the "Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building". The act for this was signed by President George W. Bush. In Ponce, there is a school named after him. Avenida José C. Barbosa, in Yauco, is named for him. In East Harlem, P.S. 206M, an elementary school, is co-named for Barbosa.

Personal life

Barbosa had twelve children including, Roberto C. Barbosa who became a dentist, Guillermo H. Barbosa, who became a surgeon and Pilar Barbosa de Rosario, who became Puerto Rico's first female official historian and married José Ezequiel Rosario. His cousin Jesus, gave birth to Oddosia "Thea" Barbosa.