Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Del Castillo(1819-1890)
Gubanatorial portrait of de Cespedes, c.1880.
Carlos Manuel de Cespedes del Castillo was born on April 18th, 1819 to a plantation owner and his wife. After graduating from college in Spain, as was the custom at the time, he bought his own plantation on his return. On October 10th, 1868, Cespedes gave the Grito de Yara (Cry of Yara) and, along with his former slaves and others revolted against the Spanish Colonial Authorities. Thanks to American shipments of weapons he managed to stave off defeat long enough for the Americans, under President Arthur I. Boreman, to intervene.
After the war, de Cespedes managed to convince the Americans to appoint him Territorial Governor. While Democrats were against this, President Boreman was able to get enough votes to put him in charge. After serving one term, de Cespedes retired. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes del Castillo died on June 1st, 1890, at age 71.