Julio J. Henna

Puerto Rican politician

José Julio Henna Pérez
Julio J. Henna at the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Committee in New York in 1895
Born	24 May 1848 (1848-05-24) Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	2 February 1924 (1924-02-03) (aged 75) New York City, NY US
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Education	Columbia University
Years active	1872–1924
Known for	Co-founder of the New York City French Hospital, Co-founder of the Puerto Rico section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party in New York
Spouse	Ada Bush Henna
Medical career
Profession	Physician
Institutions	New York City French Hospital, Bellevue Hospital.

Julio J. Henna (24 May 1848 – 2 February 1924) was a Puerto Rican physician and political figure. Henna participated in the founding of the Puerto Rico Section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party in New York as part of the section's faction that supported the annexation of Puerto Rico to the United States.^[1]

Early years

Jose Julio Henna Perez^[2] was born at 24 Isabel street in Ponce, Puerto Rico,^[1] on 24 May 1848.^[3] His parents were Jose Henna Darricot – an Englishman – and Maria del Rosario Perez y Garcia, a Puerto Rican member of the privileged upper class.^[3]

Political incursion

Julio J. Henna (seated, center) shown with the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Committee in New York in 1895

When he was twenty years old, Henna designed a plan to liberate Puerto Rico from Spanish colonialism. The plan failed when the authorities discovered it and he was jailed as a result. However, he was set free through the general amnesty which followed the Spanish revolution, which also ended the reign of Queen Isabel II. In spite of this, in 1869 General Sanz stated to Henna that it would be best if he left the Island. Henna moved to New York and studied medicine at Columbia University, earning his medical degree on 23 February 1872.^[4] From New York, Henna continued to support the cause of independence for Puerto Rico.^[5]

Career

In 1880, Henna founded, together with Drs. Chauveau, Deberceau, Muvial, and Ferrer, the New York City French Hospital at 330 West 30th street.^[6] He became medical director of the institution and was a member of the medical faculty at Bellevue Hospital.^[6]

Death

Henna died on 2 February 1924.^[7]

Legacy

A street in the city of Ponce is named after Dr. Julio J. Henna. It intersects Calle Dr. Virgilio Biaggi, in the Extension Mariani sector of Barrio Canas Urbano.^[7] A gold pendant believed to have belonged to Ponce area cacique Agueybana, and acquired by Dr. Henna, was displayed at the Gabinete de Lectura de Ponce around 1910, and is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b Encyclopedia Puerto Rico. Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
^ From Colonia to Community: The History of Puerto Ricans in New York City. Virginia Sánchez Korrol. Page 67. University of California Press. 1983. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b Lorenzo A. Balasquide. Medicos Notables del Antaño Ponceño. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1984. Page 39.
^ Lorenzo A. Balasquide. Medicos Notables del Antaño Ponceño. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1984. Page 40.
^ Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce y La Villa de Ponce. Ramon Marin. 1875. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Imprenta El Vapor. 72 pages. (Reprinted September 1994. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 281 pages. Page 15.[Socorro Girón. "Ramon Marin y su Tiempo." (foreword)]) Retrieved 23 July 2012.
^ ^a ^b Lorenzo A. Balasquide. Medicos Notables del Antaño Ponceño. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1984. Page 41.
^ ^a ^b Lorenzo A. Balasquide. Medicos Notables del Antaño Ponceño. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1984. Page 42.
^ Ponce: Notas para su historia. Archived 18 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Mariano Vidal Armstrong. Oficina Estatal de Conservación Histórica. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1989. page 8. Accessed 19 February 2018.