12 Facts About Josephine Bracken

Josephine Bracken was born in Hong Kong to Irish parents and was adopted by her blind American godfather.

In 1895, Josephine Bracken travelled to Dapitan to accompany her adoptive father who wanted to seek treatment from Rizal, an ophthalmologist who previously practiced in Hong Kong.

Josephine Bracken was born in Victoria Barracks in Hong Kong on August 9,1876, to Irish parents James Josephine Bracken, a corporal in the British Army, and Elizabeth Jane McBride, who were married on May 3,1868, in Belfast, Ireland.

Josephine Bracken was taken in by her godfather, the American George Taufer, a blind and fairly well-to-do engineer of the pumping plant of the Hong Kong Fire Department, and his late Portuguese wife.

Josephine Bracken spent two months in the Convent of the Canossian Sisters, where she previously attended early years of school.

Josephine Bracken decided to return only after Taufer called at the convent's door, pleading with her to return home as his third wife was a bad housekeeper.

Josephine Bracken later recommended that her blind adoptive father see Jose Rizal, who was a respected ophthalmologist and had practised at Rednaxela Terrace in Hong Kong.

Josephine Bracken accompanied Taufer to Manila on his way back to Hong Kong, together with Rizal's sister, Narcisa, on March 14,1895.

The couple had a son, Francisco Rizal y Josephine Bracken, who was born prematurely and died within a few hours of birth.

Imus was under threat of recapture, so Josephine Bracken, making her way through the thicket and mud, moved with the operation to the Cavite mountain redoubt of Maragondon.

Josephine Bracken witnessed the Tejeros Convention on March 22,1897, before returning to Manila, and was later summoned by the Spanish Governor-General, who threatened her with torture and imprisonment if she did not leave the colony.

Josephine Bracken died of tuberculosis on March 14,1902 in Hong Kong and was interred at the Happy Valley Cemetery.