Florida, February 22.- On February 22, 1877 and while carrying out the mission of raising funds and reconciling differences between Cuban emigrants, Francisco Vicente Aguilera y Tamayo, the man who owned the greatest fortune of those landowners who in 1868 went to combat to liberate Cuba from Spanish colonialism.
He was the head of the first Cuban Revolutionary Committee, based in Bayamo, and was also one of the first to support the La Demajagua uprising led by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, he reached the rank of Major General and first served as Secretary of War. and then that of vice president of the Republic in Arms.
Francisco Vicente Aguilera y Tamayo, whom José Martí called “the heroic millionaire, the impeccable gentleman, and Father of the Republic” became a missionary for the independence of Cuba, and from the United States he traveled to Europe, where he also failed to raise the funds. funds necessary to assemble an expedition and contribute to the development of the armed struggle.
The period he lived during his emigration contributed to radicalizing his vision of the United States, which is why he declared to some Cubans who dreamed of this country’s help in achieving national independence: “They will help Cuba when Cuba has helped itself. “To expect more than that is a vague illusion.”
