Segundo Ruiz Belvis (1829 - 1867)

Wed May 13, 1829

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Ruiz Belvis, born on this day in 1829, was an abolitionist who fought for Puerto Rico’s independence from Spain, helping organize the revolutionary rebellion “Grito de Lares”. Belvis died while raising funds for the rebellion in Chile.

After studying abroad, Ruiz Belvis returned to Puerto Rico in 1859 and befriended Ramón Emeterio Betances, joining his group “The Secret Abolitionist Society”. The society baptized and emancipated thousands of black slave children in an event known as the “aguas de libertad” (waters of liberty).

In 1866, Ruiz Belvis exiled in New York where, with Betances and others, he formed the “Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico” (Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico) to organize for the independence of the island.

They developed a plan to send an armed expedition to Puerto Rico, later known as the “Grito de Lares”. Before the insurrection could happen, however, Belvis died of illness while on a diplomatic mission in Chile to raise funds for the rebellion.