Luis Estévez y Romero

Don Luis Gonzaga Irene Estévez y Romero was a Cuban lawyer, politician, philosopher, naturalist, and the first Vice President of the Republic of Cuba, during the first term of President Tomás Estrada Palma.

Early life and legal career Estévez was born in Matanzas, Cuba, to José Torcuato Estévez and Luisa Romero. Coming from a humble background, he lost his father during his teenage years. In 1863, he enrolled at La Empresa School, where he later taught from 1868 to 1869.

Service in the Republic of Cuba Following the conclusion of the Cuban-Spanish-American War, the United States government appointed General Leonard Wood as Governor General of Cuba. In turn, Wood selected Estévez to serve as Secretary of Justice. A distinguished jurist, Estévez carried out significant reforms during his tenure, earning recognition for his contributions to the administration of justice. However, after only a few months in office, he resigned. His decision was driven by both health concerns and the need to personally manage Marta Abreu's affairs, which required his immediate attention.

On October 9, 1889, Estévez was elected President of the Cuban National Party.

By December 1908, Marta's longstanding stomach ailments worsened, prompting doctors to recommend surgery. Diagnosed with appendicitis, she underwent an operation, but complications arose, leading to sepsis. Estévez brought flowers to his wife's grave every morning, very carefully arranging them in the marble flower pot next to her headstone. Overcome with grief, Estévez took his own life by firearm on February 4, 1909. He is known as a co-author of some of his wife's written works, but he also had a keen scientific curiosity before he met her.

At just 15 years old, in 1865, he became an associate member of the Science Section of the Liceo de Matanzas, and was elected deputy secretary of the section later that year, serving until the institution closed in 1869. He worked alongside notable Cuban naturalists, including Sebastián A. de Morales, Manuel J. Presas, Francisco Jimeno, and Joaquín Barnet.

During this time, Estévez contributed to El Liceo magazine, beginning with a translation of "The Beaver" in September 1865. In November of that year, he published "Valva de un pecten," his first known original article, which summarized a scientific presentation he had given on the existence of certain mollusk fossils in Matanzas. He continued to publish scientific articles, including "Apuntes entomológicos" in March 1866.

Estévez also made significant contributions to the Natural History Museum, established by the Science Section in 1866, donating a transatlantic map illustrating telegraph cable routes, a sample of Vesuvius lava rock, a collection of minerals and fossils, and preserved animal specimens. Among his donations was a silver medal commemorating the 1860 maiden voyage of the Leviathan, a pioneering steamship.