Pedro Albizu Campos

Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos (September 12, 1891 – April 21, 1965) born in Tenerias Village in Ponce, Puerto Rico was the son of Alejandro Albizu and Juana Campos. He was also the nephew of Juan Morel Campos, one of Puerto Rico's greatest composers of danzas. Albizu was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and avid advocate of Puerto Rican independence from the United States by what ever means necessary. Albizu felt that Puerto Rico deserved the same right as the United States and other countries had to fight for independence.

Education

In 1912 Pedro was awarded a scholarship to study Engineering, specializing in Chemistry at the University of Vermont. In 1913 he continued his studies at Harvard University.

Related Topics:
1912 - Engineering - Chemistry - University of Vermont - 1913 - Harvard University

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At the outbreak of World War I, Pedro volunteered in the United States Infantry. Albizu was trained by the French Military mission and served under General Frank McIntyre where he was assigned to an African-American unit and was discharged as a First Lieutenant. During this time he was exposed to the racism of the day which left a mark in his beliefs towards the relationship of Puerto Ricans and the United States.

Related Topics:
World War I - United States - Infantry - French Military mission - Frank McIntyre - African-American - First Lieutenant - Racism - Puerto Ricans

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In 1919, Albizu returned to Harvard University and was elected president of Harvard's Cosmopolitan Club. He met with foreign students and lecturers, like Subhas Chandra Bose (Indian Nationalist leader with Gandhi) and the Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore. He became interested in the cause of Indian independence and helped to establish several centers in Boston for Irish independence. He met Eamon de Valera and later became a consultant in the drafting of the constitution of the Irish Free State. He graduated from Harvard University obtaining a Law degree as well as degrees in Literature, Philosophy, Chemical Engineering and Military Science. He was fluent in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and Greek. At the time he received job offers as Hispanic representative for a protestant church, as a legal aide to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in the U.S. State Department's diplomatic corps in Mexico, yet Albizu opted to return to Puerto Rico.

Related Topics:
1919 - Harvard University - Subhas Chandra Bose - Gandhi - Rabindranath Tagore - Indian independence - Boston - Irish independence - Eamon de Valera - Irish Free State - Law - Literature - Philosophy - Chemical Engineering - Military Science - English - Spanish - French - German - Portuguese - Italian - Latin - Greek - Hispanic - U.S. Supreme Court - U.S. State Department - Mexico - Puerto Rico

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