Francisco de Arango y Parreño

Francisco de Arango y Parreño (1765-1837)

He was born in Havana on May 22, 1765 but resided in Güines during most of his adult life. He studied philosophy in San Carlos Seminary and his college education at the University of Havana, transferring to Spain to continue the same obtaining a law degree in Madrid in 1789.

In 1791, he was one of the promoters of Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (Economic Society Friends of the Country). He was editor of Papel Periódico (Periodic Paper) and counselor of the Appeals Tribunal. In 1792, he wrote his first article about Cuban agriculture entitled La agricultura en Cuba y medios de fomentarla (Cuba’s Agriculture and Means to Develop It). He owned La Ninfa (The Nymph) sugar mill in the jurisdiction of Güines, he introduced the Tahiti sugar cane, that had a better yield than others being cultivated at that time, contributing directly and efficiently to the modernization of this crop.

Generous without fuss, benefactor and a dynamic force in propagating culture and popular education, in 1812 he donated to the Villa a building for a free school in which he invested 30,000 pesos. On February 18, 1818, upon returning from Spain, he brought with him the Royal Edict issued by King Fernando VII on October 22, 1817, granting Güines the title of “Villa”.

He reached all summits, enjoyed popular favor, he was worthy of crosses, decorations and honors, and his opinion was sought and respected in matters of State. His activity was not an impulse but a constant and permanent line of conduct. He traveled, spoke English and French, wrote without rest and read a lot. Arango y Parreño filled with his name and conduct, a whole era in the history of Cuba and brightened that of Spain. He closed the cycle of voluntary submission.

Reading and studying Arango, always placed in his time, you can appreciate the smallness of Hispanic political men and the lack of any constructive sense in their governments. According to Pezuela in his History of Cuba, “he was the more influential man in his country’s destiny.”

He was the original promoter of the railroad or iron road from Havana to Güines and he died on March 21, 1837, the year the same was inaugurated.

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