JosŽ Mart’ Chronology




Source: Re-reading JosŽ Mart’ (1853-1895) One Hundred Years Later.
Albany, New York : State University of New York Press, 1999

You can read more about Mart’ in The Politics of Letters: JosŽ Mart’Õs Revolutionary Discourse. Doctoral Thesis, University of Toronto, 2006.
1853 
JosŽ Mart’ is born in Havana on January 28. He is the first son of the Valencian Mariano Mart’ Navarro, First Sergeant in the Real Cuerpo de Artiller’a, and Leonor PŽrez Cabrera, who came from the Canary Islands.

1854-1855 The Junta Cubana n the United States proposes to annex Cuba. The Junta dissolves in 1855.

1857 Mart’ travels to Spain with his family.

1858 Mart’Õs family returns to Cuba in June.

1860 Mart’ starts attending school at Colegio San Anacleto
By 1861 there are 1,400,000 inhabitants in Cuba; 500,000 blacks and 750,000 whites. [27.1% slaves, 16.3% free blacks, .3% emancipados, 2.5% Asian, .1% Yucatecan, 53.7% white; only 16% of the population are peninsulares.]

1862 Mart’ meets Ferm’n ValdŽs Dom’nguez at school. They will remain friends and comrades for life.
Mart’ travels with his father through the province of Matanzas and observes slavery at firsthand. This experience will mark him for life.

1863 Mart’ travels to British Honduras with his father.
Political reform is undertaken in Cuba.

1865 Foundation of the Partido Reformista. Elections are held in Cuba.

1866 Mart’ enrolls in the Instituto de Segunda Ense–anza de La Habana, directed by Rafael Mar’a de Mendive, who will become his mentor.
The Junta de Informaci—n requests an automonic regime for Cuba.
Another econimic crisis hits the island and taxes are increased.

1867The reformist movement fails.

1868 Mart’ publishes his first poem in the local newspaper El Album. The poem is dedicated to MendiveÕs wife.
La Guerra de Diez A–os begins with the Grito de Lara. Slavery is abolished by the insurgent government of Carlos Manuel de CŽspedes.

1869 Mart’ published several patriotic writings: an editorial in El diablo cojuelo, the poem ÇAbdalaÈ in La patria libre, and the sonnet ÇÁ10 de octubre!È in the handwritten school paper El Siboney.
Mendive is arrested and deported to Spain in May due to his links with the independence movement. Mart’ is imprisoned on October 21.
The insurrection continues to gain force throughout the island. Spain initiates a war to exterminate the rebels. Political emigration to the United States begins.

1870 In March, Mart’ is sentenced to six years in prison and sent to a prison outside Havana in April. The injuries suffered during the six months of forced labour has life-lasting effects. In October, a friend of his father obtains his pardon.

1871Mart’ is exiled to Spain in January. In March, he publishes El presidio pol’tico en Cuba. He enrolls in law school at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He writes for El Jurado Federal on behalf of Cuban residents in Madrid.
The war escalates on both sides. Spain increases executions.

1872 ValdŽs Dom’nguez joins Mart’ in Madrid. Mart’ undergoes surgery three times to treat his injuries without much success. Mart’ works as a teacher and starts work on his play Adœltera. He participates in political actions and protests the executions in Cuba.

1873The Republic is proclaimed in Spain. Mart’ publishes La Repœblica espa–ola ante la Revoluci—n cubana. He transfers to the University of Zaragoza with ValdŽs Dom’nguez.

1874 Mart’ finishes Adœltera and obtains a degree in Civil and Canonical Law, as well as in Letters and Philosophy. He meets Victor Hugo in Paris and visits several European cities with ValdŽs Dom’nguez. His family moves to Mexico.
CŽspedes dies. The insurgent forces obtain some new victories in the war. The monarchy is reinstated in Spain with Alfonso XII.

1875Mart’ joins his family in Mexico. He begins his contribution to Revista Universal with a poem in memory of his sister, and publishes other articles under the pen name ÇOrestes.È Mart’ starts publication of his translation of Victor HugoÕs Mes fils. His play Amor con amor se paga opens in the Teatro Principal. He participates in political debates in the press in defense of Cuban insurgents. He meets his future wife, Carmen Zayas Baz‡n.
Dissidence arises among Cuban rebels; some factions try to negotiate a settlement with Spain.

1876 Mart’ founds the Sociedad Alarc—n of authors, actors, and theatre critics. He contributes to El Federalista. Mart’ is elected delegate to a Workers Convention. He gives speeches at several cultural centers. He decides to leave Mexico after the fall of the liberal government.
The revolution declines as division grows among the insurgents.

1877 Mart’ returns to Cuba for a few months under an assumed name. He relocates to Guatemala in March, where he teches in the Escuela Normal [Teachers College] first, and later is appointed professor of French, English, Italian,and German Literature at the Universidad de Guatemala. He writes the play Patria y libertad. He travels to Mexico to marry Carmen.

1878 Mart’ publishes his brochure Guatemala in Mexico. He resigns from his position at the Escuela Normal following the dismissal of its Cuban director. Mart’ returns to Cuba under an amnesty following the Pacto de Zanj—n and works with a law firm. His son JosŽ Francisco is born in November.
The war concludes with the Pacto de Zanj—n. Two new political parties are founded: Partido Liberal and Uni—n Constitucional.

1879 Mart’ gives his first speech in Cuba. He engages in the literary debate about idealism and realism in defense of the former. Mart’ is named Vice-president of the secret Club Central Revolucionario. He participates actively in political debates until his arrest and deportation to Spain in September under charges of conspiracy. In December he leaves for France and ultimately for the United States.
JosŽ Maceo and other activists initiate the Çguerra chiquitaÈ for independence.

1880Mart’ arrives in New York. He participates actively in support of CubaÕs independence through speeches, fundraising, and the writing of proclamations for the armed expedition led by Calixto Garc’a and others. He becomes interim president of the ComitŽ Revolucionario Cubano. His first publications in English appear in the newspapers The Hour and The Sun. His wife and child join him in March, but leave again in October due to marital disagreements.
Calixto Garc’aÕs expedition to Cuba fails. The Spanish government agrees to a gradual abolition of slavery in the island.

1881 Mart’ moves to Venezuela, where he teaches Spanish and French Literature. He begins contributions to La Opinion Nacional, of Caracas, under the pen name M. de Z., and La Pluma, of Bogot‡. He publishes brielfy in Revista Venezolana. Mart’ returns to New York, expelled by President Guzm‡n Blanco.
In Cuba, the Partido Liberal declares its support for an autonomic regime.

1882 Mart’ publishes the book of poetry Ismaelillo, dedicated to his son. He works on poems for Versos libres. He initiates contributions to La Naci—n, of Buenos Aires. He writes to the generals M‡ximo G—mez and Antonio Maceo about starting a new revolution in Cuba. His wife and child return to New York.

1883 Mart’ translates several works for Appleton and Co. He works as writer and editor for La AmŽrica, of New York, and gives a speech honoring Sim—n Bol’var in his centenary.
Another revolutonary attempt fails in Cuba. Many sugar plantations and sugar mills fall under the control of United States companies.

1884 Mart’ becomes editor in chief of La AmŽrica and correspondent in New York of the Sociedad de Amigos de Saber of Caracas. He meets with Maceo and G—mez several times and decides not to participate in their revolutionary plans. He explains his civilian principles in a letter to G—mez.
Economic depression is widespread in Cuba. G—mez and Maceo lead the revolutionary movement from exile.

1885 Mart’ publishes the novel Amistad Funesta in installments in El Latino Americano of New York. His wife and child return to Havana.
G—mez and MaceoÕs plan fails, as do other revolutionary attempts.

1886Mart’ begins contributions to other newspapers: El Partido Liberal, of Mexico; La Repœblica, of Honduras, and El Economista Americano, of New York.
 Slavery is abolished in Cuba.

1887 Mart’ is appointed General Consul of Uruguay in New York. He reenters his political activity on behalf of CubaÕs independence with a speech on October 10. He presides over the Comisi—n Ejecutiva de Cubanos. His contributions to La Naci—n and El Partido Liberal are reprinted by more than twenty papers in Latin America, but he doesnÕt receive payment from most of them. Mart’Õs father dies.
Cuba has 1,631,687 inhabitants, including 528,798 Afro-Cubans. The Partido AutonomistaÕs influence grows. For the first time, a sugar mill is staffed with paid workers.

1888 Mart’ becomes correspondent in New York for the Academia de Ciencias y Bellas Artes of San Salvador, and agent in the United States and Canada for the Asociaci—n de la Prensa de Buenos Aires.

1889 Mart’ participates in a debate in the press regarding the annexation of Cuba by the United States. The articles about the debate appeared originally in The Evening Post and were published later as Cuba y los Estados Unidos. He writes the sole four issues of the childrenÕs magazine La Edad de Oro, contributes to the New York magazine La Juventud, and becomes correspondent for La Opini—n Pœblica, of Montevideo. Mart’ continues political activities through speeches.

1890 Rafael Serra and Mart’ found the association La Liga dedicated to the instruction of black Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants in New York. Mart’ is its honorary president and volunteers as a teacher. He carries out fundraising activities for the Club Los Independientes in New York. He is appointed consul in New York of Paraguay and Argentina, as well as delegate to the Comisi—n Monetaria Internacional. Mart’ is elected president of the Sociedad Literaria Hispano-Americana, in the cultural life of which he had participated in the past and will continue to be active. He teaches Spanish at Central Evening High School, and reads Versos sencillos to a gathering of friends.
Maceo travels to Cuba. Electricity is installed in Havana.

1891 Mart’ writes Ç Nuestra AmŽrica È for La Revista Ilustrada, of New York. His proposal to the Comisi—n Monetaria is approved unanimously. He writes his last article for La Naci—n and publishes Versos sencillos. He resigns as consul of Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina following a protest from the Spanish ambassador in the United States about a speech by Mart’ in Hardman Hall. He travels to Tampa invited by the Club Ignacio Agramonte and founds La Liga there. His ÇResoluciones,È the prelude to the Partido Revolucionario Cubano, are approved by Cuban immigrants. After several speeches in Tampa, Mart’ is acclaimed by workers at a tobacco factory who give him an album with their thoughts. His wife and child come back to New York in June. In August, his wife decides to leave Mart’ parmanently.
Political and economical turmoil reign in Cuba. The cause for independence gains strength.

1892Mart’ reads the Bases and Estatutos Secretos del Partido Revolucionario Cubano, which are approved unanimously by the associations of Cuban immigants. He travels back and forth between New York and Florida organizing the revolutionary forces and also visits the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti. Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants proclaim the foundation of the Partido Revolucionario Cubano in April. Mart’ is elected Delegate. The military members choose M‡ximo G—mez as Chief of the EjŽrcito Libertador. Mart’ meets with him in the Dominican Republic and offers him the supreme leadership of the war. First issue of Patria appears, edited by Mart’. He returns to New York in December.

1893Mart’ organizes for the independence movement at a hectic pace and in spite of continuous health problems. He travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad: Haiti, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, where he meets RubŽn Dar’o. He meets again with G—mez and later with A. Maceo. The book Los poetas de la guerra is published in New York, with a prologue by Mart’.
Two more revolutionary attempts fail in Cuba.

1894 Mart’ meets with G—mez in New York. Together with the GeneralÕs son, he travels to several cities in the United States to gather support for the war. He meets with Antonio and JosŽ Maceo in Costa Rica and travels to Panama, Jamaica, and Mexico, where he meets with President Porfirio D’az. Mart’ writes and sends to Juan Gualberto G—mez in Havana the Plan de Alzamiento, signed by Mart’ and JosŽ Mar’a Rodr’guez representing G—mez and Enrique Collazos. The insurgency plan is named Plan Fernandina.
Deep economic crisis exists in the island. The Partido Autonomista declines in popularity.

1895 The Plan de Fernandina fails after information is leaked to the United States, whose authorities detain the boat transporting weapons. Mart’ writes a new Orden de alzamiento. He meets with G—mez in Santo Domingo and signs with him the Manifiesto de Montecristi, considered a compendium of Mart’Õs revolutionary doctrine. He writes a letter to Federico Henr’quez Carvajal, regarded as his political testament, and his final letter to his mother. Mart’ arrives in Cuba on April 11, and is appointed General Major of the EjŽrcito Libertador by its officers shortly after. He joins JosŽ MaceoÕs forces. Three days later Mart’ and G—mez sign a document stating that the war should be conducted without hatred. He sends an open letter to the director of the New York Herald on May 2. On the fifth, Mart’, G—mez and Maceo discuss and agree on the general plan for the revolutionary campaign. He signs, with G—mez, the Proclama a los jefes y oficiales del EjŽrcito Libertador on May 14. He begins a letter to M.A. Mercado. On May 19, Mart’ is killed in combat by Spanish forces who take his corpse to Santiago de Cuba.
The war against Spain had begun on February 24.








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Introduction

El presidio pol’tico en Cuba

 Mart’Õs Revolutionary Oratory

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