Diego, José de (1866-1918)

Puerto Rican-born poet and public official. He founded Puerto Rico's Autonomist Party and co-founded its Unionist Party. He was president of the House of Delegates, Puerto Rico's first legislative body under American rule, later becoming an advocate of independence.

He was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. At the age of 17, he was imprisoned for political verses he wrote while studying in Spain. Works such as ‘A Laura’ and ‘Postuma’ won him a lasting reputation as Puerto Rico's finest love poet.