Juan Alejo de Arizmendi

Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi (July 17, 1760 – October 12, 1814) was a patriot and the first Puerto Rican to be consecrated Bishop.

Early years Arizmendi de la Torre (birth name: Juan Alejo de Arizmendi y de la Torre) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and there he studied in the convent of the Dominican Friars. He then went to Caracas, Venezuela. where he studied Canonical and Civil Law. He earned his doctorate in the Dominican Republic and on July 16, 1785, was ordained a priest.

First Puerto Rican Bishop In 1803, the King of Spain, Carlos IV, made a petition to the Catholic Church, to have Arizmendi named Bishop. On March 25, 1804 Pope Pius VII consecrated Arizmendi, Bishop of San Juan. For Arizmendi this was also a national symbol of Puerto Rico by joining his country and God in his heart Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi died in the City of Arecibo, Puerto Rico on October 12, 1814. His remains are in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, in Puerto Rico.

Honors and recognitions Arizmendi was immortalized by Puerto Rican artist Jose Campeche in a painting in 1803. Puerto Rico has honored Arizmendi's memory by naming schools and avenues after him. The University of Puerto Rico has an Institute of Historic Studies Juan Alejo de Arizmendi. The Catholic Church also has a medal called the "Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi Medal".