13 Facts About Luis Padial

Brigadier General Luis Padial, was a soldier, politician and one of the most important figures who was responsible for the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.

Luis Padial received his primary and secondary education in some of the city's best private schools.

Luis Padial was stationed in Puerto Rico in 1863, when a pro-independence rebellion occurred in the Dominican Republic.

Luis Padial's battalion was deployed with the intention of "squashing" the rebellion.

Luis Padial was badly wounded in a skirmish and was sent back to Puerto Rico to recover from his wounds.

Luis Padial had been a witness of the cruel treatment that the Dominicans had suffered in the hands of the Spaniards and became convinced that their quest for independence was a noble and just one.

Luis Padial went to Spain and joined the liberals, who wanted to overthrow the Spanish Monarchy of Queen Isabella II and establish a republic.

Luis Padial organized an attack from Portugal in 1866 and another from France in 1867.

Luis Padial was named Brigadier General of the Battalion of Madrid.

Luis Padial returned to the island and in 1869 was elected to represent Puerto Rico in the Spanish Courts.

On November 13,1869, Luis Padial sent a letter to the Minister of the Overseas Department, Segismundo Moret, to consider granting Puerto Rico more autonomy and to abolish slavery in Puerto Rico using Canada as a model.

In 1874, Luis Padial went into a self-imposed exile in Switzerland, when the Spanish Monarchy returned to power.

Luis Padial returned to Spain in January 1879 and died on March 5,1879, in Madrid.