Jesús T. Piñero
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Jesús T. Piñero
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Appointed Governor of Puerto Rico
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| In office January 2, 1946 – January 2, 1949 |
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| Preceded by | Rexford Guy Tugwell |
| Succeeded by | Luis Muñoz Marín |
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| Born | April 6, 1897 Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Died | November 16, 1952 (aged 55) Loiza, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Popular Democratic Party Democratic Party |
| Profession | Politician, Engineer |
Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez (April 6, 1897-November 16, 1952) was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.
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[edit] Eary years
Piñero was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico into a wealthy family and obtained his primary and secondary education in his hometown. In 1914, he graduated from the College of Liberal Arts of the University of Puerto Rico. He also attended and graduated from the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. [1]
[edit] Political career
Between 1920 and 1944, Piñero's interest in agriculture kept him engaged in the dairy business and in the cultivation of the sugar cane. He was always interested in the agricultural development of Puerto Rico which was one of the main reasons that led him to participate in political activities, particularly those concerning the issues of the sugar cane cultivation. [1]
Between 1928 and 1932, during the period that Puerto Rico's internal government was still governed by Americans appointed by the U.S., Piñero, was the President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Carolina. Between 1933 and 1937, he was the President of the Association of the Sugar Cane Industry and served in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico.[1]
In 1938, Piñero was one of the founding members, along with Luis Muñoz Marín of the Popular Democratic Party. He was named Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico by the party, and represented the island in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.. His position, however, was one that did not have any voting powers.[1]
[edit] First Puerto Rican governor appointed by the U.S.
In 1946, President Harry S. Truman relieved Governor Rexford Guy Tugwell, who had served in this position from 1941 from the governorship and named Piñero governor in his place, the first native Puerto Rican appointed to that post under U.S. administration. On June 11, 1948, Piñero, signed the "Ley de la Mordaza" (Gag Law) or Law 53 as it was officially known, passed by the Puerto Rican legislature which made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican Flag, sing a patriotic song, talk of independence and to fight for the liberation of the island. It resembled the anti-communist Smith Law passed in the United States.[2] He served as governor until 1949 when Puerto Rico celebrated its first election and Luis Muñoz Marín was elected governor.[1]
[edit] Legacy
Jesús T. Piñero died on November 16, 1952 in the town of Loíza, and was buried in his hometown, Carolina.[3] Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a high school, public housing complex and a principal avenue in San Juan and in Cayey after him. His hometown, Carolina had a monument sculpted by Jose Buscaglia Guillermety, in his likeness which is located in the entrance of the town. The Agriculture building at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is also named after him.
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| Preceded by Rexford Tugwell |
Governor of Puerto Rico 1946-1949 |
Succeeded by Luis Muñoz Marín |
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