Jose Marti

or other people named José Martí, see José Martí (disambiguation).
José Martí
Born José Julián Martí Pérez
January 28, 1853
Havana, Cuba
Died May 19, 1895 (aged 42)
Cauto, Cuba
Occupation poet, writer, nationalist leader
Nationality Cuban
Literary movement Modernismo
Spouse(s) Carmen Zayas Bazan
Children José Francisco "Pepito" Martí
Relative(s) Mariano Martí Navarro andLeonor Pérez Cabrera (Parents), 7 sisters (Leonor, Mariana, María de Carmen, María de Pilar, Rita Amelia, Antonia and Dolores)

'José Julián Martí Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and apolitical theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban Freemasons. Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol for Cuba's bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence.[1]" He also fought against the threat of United States expansionism into Cuba. From adolescence, he dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty,political independence for Cuba and intellectual independence for all Spanish Americans; his death was used as a cry for Cuban independence from Spain by both the Cuban revolutionaries and those Cubans previously reluctant to start a revolt.

Born in Havana, Martí began his political activism at an early age. He would travel extensively in Spain, Latin America, and the United States raisingawareness and support for the cause of Cuban independence. His unification of the Cuban émigré community, particularly in Florida, was crucial to the success of the Cuban War of Independence against Spain. He was a key figure in the planning and execution of this war, as well as the designer of the Cuban Revolutionary Party and its ideology. He died in military action on May 19, 1895.

Martí isconsidered one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin American intellectuals. His written works consist of a series of poems, essays, letters, lectures, a novel, and even a children's magazine. He wrote for numerous Latin American and American newspapers; he also founded a number of newspapers himself. His newspaper Patria was a key instrument in his campaign for Cuban independence. After his death,one of his poems from the book, "Versos Sencillos" (Simple Verses) was adapted to the song, "Guantanamera", which has become the definitive patriotic song of Cuba.

The concepts of freedom, liberty, and democracy are prominent themes in all of his works, which were influential on the Nicaraguan poet, Rubén Darío and the Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral.[2]
Contents

1 Life
1.1 Earlylife: Cuba 1853–1870
1.2 Spain 1871–1874
1.3 México and Guatemala 1875–1878
1.4 The United States, Venezuela 1880–1890
1.5 The United States, Central America and the West Indies 1891–1894
1.6 Return to Cuba 1895
1.7 Death
2 Political ideology
2.1 Martí and the United States
2.2 Invention of a Latin American identity3 Writings
3.1 Style
3.2 Translation
3.3 Modernism
4 Legacy
5 List of selected works
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links

Life
Early life: Cuba 1853–1870
41 Paula Street, Havana, birthplace of José Martí

José Julián Martí Pérez was born on January 28, 1853, in Havana, at 41 Paula St., to a Spanish Valencian father,Mariano Martí Navarro, and Leonor Pérez Cabrera, a native of the Canary Islands. Martí was the elder brother to seven sisters: Leonor, Mariana, Maria de Carmen, Maria de Pilar, Rita Amelia, Antonia and Dolores. He was baptized on February 12 in Santo Ángel Custodio church. When he was four, his family moved from Cuba to Valencia, Spain, but two years later they returned to the island where they...