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1822–1889 · San Juan · Literature • Journalism

Writer, poet, and physician considered one of Puerto Rico's first major literary figures. Best known for El Gíbaro, a landmark work portraying rural Puerto Rican life and traditions. Alonso y Pacheco, Manuel A. (1822--1889), writer, poet and journalist, was born on October 22, 1822 in San Juan. He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance. He received his primary education in Cayey and in the San Idelfonso Seminary in San Juan.

In 1842, he moved to Barcelona, Spain where he enrolled in the University of Bercelona to study medicine, specializing in mental disorders. He finished his medical studies in 1845 and practiced medicine in Barcelona. In 1844, he published the "Album Puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rican Album), which was the second anthology of poems published in the island. In 1848, he returned to Puerto Rico and setup his medical practice in Caguas. In 1849, he published "El Gíbaro" (now is spelled "Jibaro"), a book that is part prose and part poetry and centered on the life as a poor Puerto Rican country farmer and Puerto Rican traditions. Alonso died on November 4, 1889 in San Juan.