Prominent Figures of Venezuelan History
Andrés Bello
Born in Caracas on November 29, 1781, and died in Santiago de Chile on October 15, 1865. Bello was a renowned humanist, poet, lawmaker, philosopher, educator, and critic. A significant aspect of his life is his writing, which has been largely preserved. His works from his time in Caracas include poems such as “To the Vaccine” and “The Anauco,” the romance “Of a Saman,” sonnets like “To the Victory Dance,” “An Artist,” “My Desires,” “Venezuela,” and “Spain Restored and Comforted,” and a summary of Venezuelan history, among others.
Pedro Núñez de Cáceres
Born in Santo Domingo on April 2, 1800, and died in Caracas on February 24, 1863. A lawyer and author of a controversial report on Venezuela, he arrived in the country in 1822 with his parents, José Núñez de Cáceres and Juana de Mata Madrigal, fleeing the Haitian invasion of Santo Domingo.
José Manuel Hernández
Born in Caracas in 1853 and died in New York City on August 25, 1921. A prominent military leader and politician in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Venezuela, Hernández was the son of island workers. After the fall of Cipriano Castro, he served on the Governing Council from 1909 to 1911. He later broke with Juan Vicente Gómez, explaining his reasons in a series of letters compiled in Truths for the People (Caracas, 1911). Accused of several uprisings against Gómez, he went into exile in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and finally the United States, where he died.
José Joaquín González Gorrondona
Born in La Victoria, Aragua State, Venezuela, on February 10, 1910, and died in Caracas on August 21, 1988. A lawyer, economist, and banker, he served as governor of the International Monetary Fund and governor at the World Bank. In 1975, he was appointed to the Academy of Political and Social Sciences, and in 1988, to the National Academy of Economics.
Cipriano Castro
Born in Capacho, Táchira State, on October 12, 1858, and died in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on December 4, 1924. A military and political figure from Táchira, he served as president from 1899 to 1908 and initiated the Andean hegemony in Venezuelan politics (1899-1945). In late 1912, he attempted to stay in the U.S. but was detained by immigration authorities and forced to leave in February 1913. He eventually settled in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1916, under surveillance by spies sent by Juan Vicente Gómez. Despite his poor relations with the U.S. government, officials contacted him in 1917 to lead a potential uprising against Gómez due to the latter’s neutrality in World War I. Castro declined. His remains were in San Juan, Puerto Rico, until May 25, 1975, when they were repatriated and interred in his hometown.
José Núñez de Cáceres
Born in Santo Domingo in 1772 and died in Mexico on September 12, 1846. A lawyer, Dominican politician, and writer, he declared independence in 1821, proposing his country join Gran Colombia. He later lived in Venezuela and participated in the separatist movement known as La Cosiata (1826). When the movement was suppressed in early 1827 with Bolívar’s arrival, Núñez de Cáceres left for Mexico. In Mexico, his political and civic activities earned him the title of Meritorious Citizen of Tamaulipas State in 1833.
José María Vargas
Born in La Guaira, Vargas State, on March 10, 1786, and died in New York City on July 13, 1854. A surgeon, scientist, professor, and dean of the University of Caracas, he was also a politician, writer, and president of Venezuela. Due to illness, he traveled to the U.S. in August 1853, living in Philadelphia and then New York, where he died. His ashes were returned to Caracas and buried in the National Cemetery on April 27, 1877.
Sports
Baseball Players
Alex Carrasquel
In 1930, at age 18, Alejandro “El Patón” Carrasquel began his professional baseball career with the Royal Criollos. On April 23, 1939, he debuted in the major leagues with the Washington Senators, becoming the first Venezuelan in the big leagues. With two outs and bases loaded, he replaced Ken Chase and got Joe DiMaggio to ground out. He then struck out Lou Gehrig and got Bill Dickey to fly out.
Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel
Born in Caracas on January 23, 1928, Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel was Alex Carrasquel’s nephew. At 11, he began playing in a league for 16-year-olds. In 1946, he started his career in the Venezuelan Winter League, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949, who then traded him to the White Sox. Chicago assigned him to Fort Worth of the Texas League due to his lack of English proficiency. He earned the nickname “Chico” there and achieved the second-best fielding percentage among shortstops.
Andrés “El Gato” Galarraga
Born in Caracas on June 18, 1961. He started his professional career in 1978 with the Leones del Caracas, playing 13 seasons. In 1985, he had a standout season with a .297 average, 77 hits, 10 doubles, 14 home runs, and 37 RBIs.
Tony Armas
Born in Puerto Píritu in 1953. Armas played 20 seasons in Venezuelan baseball, 18 with the Leones del Caracas. He debuted in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 6, 1976, and was traded to Oakland in 1977.
Bo Díaz
Born in Cúa, Miranda State, on March 23, 1953. He debuted in Venezuelan baseball with the Leones del Caracas in 1971, playing 14 seasons. His major league debut was with the Boston Red Sox on September 6, 1977, with one at-bat. He also played sporadically for the Cleveland Indians.
César Tovar
Born in Caracas on July 3, 1940. He debuted professionally in 1959, playing 26 seasons, 16 with the Leones del Caracas. His major league debut was with the Minnesota Twins on April 12, 1965.
David Concepción
Born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, on June 17, 1948. He debuted in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds on April 6, 1970, playing 19 seasons.
Simón Bolívar
Born in Caracas on July 24, 1783, and died in Santa Marta, Colombia, on December 17, 1830.