Today in Puerto Rico History
Cities in Puerto Rico: Caguas - Ponce - San Juan
Historical Events
Results 1 - 58 of 58
1492-10-08 - Columbus' fleet about 400 sea miles from Puerto Rico
1493-11-19 - Christopher Columbus discovers Puerto Rico, on his 2nd voyage
1508-08-12 - Juan Ponce de Leon arrives in Puerto Rico
1625-09-24 - Dutch attack San Juan, Puerto Rico
1760-07-19 - The formal request to found the later city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico is filed by its founders.
1760-08-21 - The church (later cathedral) of "Our Lady of Candlemas of Mayagüez (Puerto Rico)" is founded, establishing the basis for the founding of the city.
1797-04-17 - Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico in what would be one of the largest invasions to Spanish territories in America.
1836-05-07 - The settlement of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico is elevated to the royal status of villa by the government of Spain.
1841-01-30 - A fire destroys two-thirds of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
1868-09-23 - Grito de Lares proclaims Puerto Rico's independence (crushed by Spain)
1873-03-22 - Slavery is abolished in Puerto Rico
1873-03-23 - Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico
1877-07-10 - The then villa of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico formally receives its city charter from the Royal Crown of Spain.
1891-06-11 - Puerto Rican flag adopted
1897-11-25 - Spain grants Puerto Rico autonomy
1898-07-28 - Spanish troops in Ponce, Puerto Rico, surrender
1898-10-18 - American flag raised in Puerto Rico
1899-04-11 - Treaty of Paris ratifies ends war; Spain cedes Puerto Rico to US
1900-04-02 - The Foraker Act passes through Congress, giving Puerto Ricans limited self-rule.
1904-01-04 - Supreme Court rules Puerto Ricans cannot be denied admission to US
1917-03-02 - Jones Act: Puerto Rico territory created, US citizenship granted
1919-06-20 - 150 die at the Teatro Yaguez fire, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
1928-10-22 - Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity is founded at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.
1932-05-17 - Congress changes name "Porto Rico" to "Puerto Rico"
1937-03-21 - Ponce massacre, police kill 19 at Puerto Rican Nationalist parade
1946-07-21 - Jesus T Pinerol becomes 1st native born Puerto Rican governor
1949-01-02 - Luis Muñoz Marín becomes the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
1950-07-04 - Truman signs public law 600 (Puerto Ricans write own constitution)
1950-11-01 - Puerto Rican nationalists try to kill Pres Truman at Blair House
1952-03-03 - Puerto Rico approves their 1st self written constitution
1952-07-03 - Puerto Rico's constitution approved by US Congress
1952-07-25 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created (Constitution Day)
1952-07-25 - Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing US commonwealth
1952-08-25 - Puerto Rico becomes a US commonwealth
1954-03-01 - 4 Puerto Ricans open fire in US house of reps injuring 5 reps
1961-12-15 - JFK visits Puerto Rico
1964-02-03 - Black & Puerto Rican students boycott NYC public schools
1967-11-25 - Puerto Rico placed on Atlantic Standard Time
1969-01-02 - Luis Ferré becomes the first statehooder Governor of Puerto Rico.
1972-04-01 - 30,000 attend Mar Y Sol rock concert, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
1974-08-04 - Crawford-Butler Act allows Puerto Ricans to elect own governor
1977-06-04 - Violence during Puerto Rican Day in Chicago kills 2
1978-03-22 - Karl Wallenda of the The Flying Wallendas dies after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1979-09-10 - 3 Puerto Rican nationalists who attempted to kill Truman are freed
1984-10-31 - Puerto Rican tanker, San Francisco explodes spilling 2 million gallons of oil as ship caught fire
1985-07-15 - Deborah Carthy-Deu, of Puerto Rico, crowned 34th Miss Universe
1986-12-31 - Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico kills 97
1987-01-01 - 60 bodies recovered in Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico
1988-11-08 - Rafael Fernandez Colón elected if pres of Puerto Rico
1989-09-18 - Hurricane Hugo causes extensive damage in Puerto Rico
1993-01-25 - Puerto Rico adds English as its 2nd official language
1993-05-21 - Dayanara Torres, 18, of Puerto Rico, crowned 42nd Miss Universe
1993-11-14 - Puerto Rico votes against becoming the 51st US state
1996-11-21 - A propane explosion at the Humberto Vidal shoe store and office building in San Juan, Puerto Rico kills 33.
2001-01-02 - Sila Calderón becomes the first female Governor of Puerto Rico.
2005-09-23 - FBI killing of Filiberto Ojeda on Plan Bonito Hormigueros, Puerto Rico.
2006-05-01 - The Puerto Rican government closes the Department of Education and 42 other government agencies due to significant shortages in cash flow.
2007-11-29 - A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurs off the northern coast of Martinique. This affected the Eastern Caribbean as far north as Puerto Rico and as south as Trinidad.
Famous Birthdays
Results 1 - 100 of 117
1827-04-08 - Ramón Emeterio Betances, Puerto Rican politician, medical doctor and diplomat (d. 1898)
1839-01-11 - Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Puerto Rico, patriot/scholar
1848-04-12 - José Gautier Benítez, Puerto Rican poet (d. 1880)
1857-07-27 - Jose Celso Barbosa, Puerto Rico, found Federalist Party in 1900
1859-07-17 - Luis Munoz Rivera, Puerto Rico, journalist (founded Federalist Party)
1867-04-16 - Jose de Diego, Puerto Rico, patriot/PR Secretary of Justice
1891-09-12 - Pedro Albizu Campos, advocate for Puerto Rican independence (d. 1965)
1898-02-18 - Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rican poet (d. 1980)
1898-07-04 - Dr. Pilar Barbosa, Puerto Rican historian (d. 1997)
1905-09-01 - Elvera Sanchez, Puerto Rican dancer (d. 2000)
1905-09-26 - Emilio Navarro, Puerto Rican baseball player
1906-05-06 - Enrique Laguerre, Puerto Rican writer (d. 2005)
1907-09-14 - A Cecil Snyder, Chief Justice of Puerto Rico
1913-05-23 - Ruth Fernandez legendary singer from Puerto Rico
1923-04-20 - Tito Puente, Puerto Rico, bandleader (Dance Mania)
1927-02-18 - Luis Arroyo, Puerto Rican baseball player
1928-02-17 - Marta Romero, Puerto Rican actress & singer
1930-04-10 - Norma Candal, Puerto Rican actor/comedian (d. 2006)
1932-03-09 - Walter Mercado, Puerto Rican astrologist and actor
1932-09-04 - Carlos Romero-Barcel, (Rep-D-Puerto Rico)
1933-04-26 - Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Puerto Rican activist (d. 2005)
1937-09-17 - Orlando Cepeda, Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player
1939-06-21 - Ruben Berrios, Puerto Rican politician
1939-07-27 - James Victor, Puerto Rico, actor (Boulevard Night, Streets of LA)
1939-09-09 - Carlos Ortiz, Puerto Rican boxer
1942-09-23 - Sila María Calderón, Puerto Rican politician
1944-04-05 - Pedro Rossello, Puerto Rican politician
1946-09-30 - Héctor Lavoe, Puerto Rican singer (d. 1993)
1946-10-26 - Holly Woodlawn, Puerto Rican actress
1948-07-18 - Carlos Colón, Sr., Puerto Rican professional wrestler
1949-01-15 - Luis Alvarado, Puerto Rican baseball player (d. 1987)
1949-03-16 - Erik Estrada, Puerto Rican actor
1950-03-07 - Iris Chacon, Puerto Rican singer and dancer
1955-09-16 - Yolandita Monge, Puerto Rican singer
1956-08-28 - Luis Guzmán, Puerto Rican actor
1956-10-29 - Wilfredo Gómez, Puerto Rican boxer
1956-11-25 - Liana Vicens, Puerto Rico, 100m breaststroke (Olympics 1968)
1957-01-07 - Julian Solis, Puerto Rican boxer
1957-01-19 - Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rican politician
1958-06-11 - Deborah Vidal, Ponce Puerto Rico, LPGA golfer (1994 Oldsmobile-19th)
1958-10-19 - Lou Briel, Puerto Rican singer and actor
1960-10-31 - Luis Fortuño, Puerto Rican delegate to Congress
1962-03-19 - Ivan Calderón, Puerto Rican baseball player (d. 2003)
1964-11-11 - Roberto Hernandez, Santurce Puerto Rico, pitcher (Chic White Sox)
1965-03-09 - Benito Santiago, Ponce Puerto Rico, catcher (Phila Phillies)
1965-05-14 - Joey Cora, Caguas Puerto Rico, infielder (Seattle Mariners)
1965-07-29 - Luis Alicea, Santurce Puerto Rico, infielder (St Louis Cardinals)
1965-10-06 - Ruben Sierra, Rio Piedras Puerto Rico, outfielder (NY Yankees)
1966-06-18 - Sandy Alomar, Salinas Puerto Rico, catcher (Cleveland Indians)
1966-11-02 - Orlando Merced, Hato Rey Puerto Rico, outfielder (Pitts Pirates)
1967-02-19 - Benicio Del Toro, Puerto Rico, actor (Licence to Kill, Usual Suspects)
1967-03-02 - Leo Gomez, Canovanas Puerto Rico, infielder (Chic Cubs)
1967-03-27 - Jaime Navarro, Bayamon Puerto Rico, pitcher (Chic Cubs)
1967-04-13 - Olga Tañón, Puerto Rican singer
1967-07-06 - Omar Olivares, Mayaguez Puerto Rico, pitcher (Detroit Tigers)
1968-02-05 - Roberto Alomar, Salinas Puerto Rico, infielder (Baltimore Orioles)
1968-06-28 - Chayanne, Puerto Rican singer
1968-09-13 - Bernie Williams, San Juan Puerto Rico, outfielder (NY Yankees)
1968-10-13 - Julio Valera, San Sebastian Puerto Rico, pitcher (KC Royals)
1968-11-04 - Carlos Baerga, Puerto Rico, infielder (Cleveland Indians)
1969-04-07 - Ricky Bones, Salinas Puerto Rico, pitcher (Mil Brewers, NY Yanks)
1969-07-14 - Jose Hernandez, Hato Rey Puerto Rico, infielder (Chic Cubs)
1969-10-12 - Jose Valentin, Manati Puerto Rico, infielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
1969-10-20 - Juan Gonzalez, Vega Baja Puerto Rico, outfielder (Texas Rangers)
1969-10-31 - Damon Mashore, Ponce Puerto Rico, outfielder (Oakland A's)
1969-11-09 - Angel Miranda, Arecieo Puerto Rico, pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers)
1970-04-02 - Roselyn Sanchez, Puerto Rican actress
1970-06-25 - Ana Rosa Brito, Miss Puerto Rico Universe (1997)
1970-10-14 - Jon Seda, Puerto Rican actor
1970-11-05 - Javier Lopez, Ponce Puerto Rico, catcher (Atlanta Braves)
1971-08-17 - Jorge Posada, Puerto Rican baseball player
1971-11-30 - Ivan Rodriguez, Vega Baja Puerto Rico, catcher (Texas Rangers)
1971-12-28 - Melvin Nieves, San Juan Puerto Rico, outfielder (Detroit Tigers)
1972-04-15 - Ricky Otero, Vega Baja Puerto Rico, outfielder (Phila Phillies)
1972-06-25 - Carlos Delgado, Aguadilla Puerto Rico, infielder (Toronto Blue Jays)
1972-08-23 - Raul Casanova, Puerto Rican baseball player
1972-09-06 - Justina Machado, Puerto Rican actress
1972-10-02 - Rafael Carmona, Rio Piedras Puerto Rico, pitcher (Seattle Mariners)
1973-03-31 - Bold Forbes, Puerto Rican/American thoroughbred racehorse (d. 2000)
1973-06-17 - Christian Claudio, Puerto Rican Business Consultant
1973-07-31 - Jerry Rivera, Puerto Rico, spanish singer
1973-11-08 - Vanesa Littlecrow, Puerto Rican cartoonist, dancer, writer and model
1974-02-24 - Mike Lowell, Puerto Rican baseball player
1974-04-18 - Millie Corretjer, Puerto Rican singer
1974-07-20 - Bengie Molina, Puerto Rican baseball player
1974-08-27 - José Vidro, Puerto Rican baseball player
1975-01-09 - Kiko Calero, Puerto Rican baseball player
1975-01-17 - Freddy Rodriguez, Puerto Rican-American actor
1975-02-13 - Iván González, Puerto Rican writer and musician
1975-06-03 - Jose Molina, Puerto Rican baseball player
1975-09-01 - Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Puerto Rican guitarist
1975-10-18 - Alex Cora, Puerto Rican baseball player
1976-02-05 - Nancy Feber, Antwerp Belgium, tennis star (1995 Puerto Rico)
1976-03-04 - Hiram Bocachica, Puerto Rican baseball player
1976-07-15 - Jim Jones, African Puerto Rican American rapper
1976-07-25 - Javier Vázquez, Puerto Rican baseball player
1976-08-03 - Sarybel Velila, Miss Universe-Puerto Rico (1996)
1977-04-24 - Carlos Beltran, Puerto Rican baseball player
1977-09-25 - Wil Nieves, Puerto Rican baseball player
1978-02-10 - Don Omar, Puerto Rican singer
Famous Deaths
Results 1 - 23 of 23
1898-09-16 - Ramón Emeterio Betances, Puerto Rican politician, medical doctor and diplomat (b. 1827)
1903-08-11 - Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Puerto Rican educator and nationalist (b. 1839)
1914-08-23 - George A Pogson, British consul in Puerto Rico, dies
1959-06-29 - A Cecil Snyder, Chief Justice of Puerto Rico, dies at 51
1980-04-30 - Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician (b. 1898)
1988-06-16 - Miguel Piñero, Puerto Rican playwright, actor, and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. (b. 1946)
1993-06-29 - Héctor Lavoe, Puerto Rican singer (b. 1946)
1997-03-25 - Roberto Sanchez Vilella, governor of Puerto Rico in (1965-69), dies
2000-02-07 - Big Pun, Puerto Rican-American rapper (b. 1971)
2000-09-02 - Elvera Sanchez, Puerto Rican dancer (b. 1905)
2001-03-20 - Luis Alvarado, Puerto Rican baseball player (b. 1949)
2003-05-18 - Anna Santisteban, Puerto Rican beauty contest organizer (b. 1914)
2003-08-10 - Carmita Jiménez, Puerto Rican singer
2003-10-21 - Luis A. Ferré, Governor of Puerto Rico (b. 1940)
2003-12-27 - Iván Calderón, Puerto Rican baseball player (b. 1962)
2004-01-28 - Don Cholito, Puerto Rican radio host (b. 1923)
2005-06-16 - Enrique Laguerre, Puerto Rican writer (b. 1906)
2005-09-23 - Filiberto Ojeda, Puerto Rican revolutionary (b. 1933)
2006-02-05 - Norma Candal, Puerto Rican actress and comedian (b. 1930)
2006-02-17 - Ray Barretto, Puerto Rican musician (b. 1929)
2006-06-06 - Hilton Ruiz, Puerto Rican-American jazz pianist (b. 1952)
2006-11-06 - Federico (Fico) López, Puerto Rican basketball player (b. 1962)
2007-01-11 - Puchi Balseiro, Puerto Rican singer & songwriter (b. 1926)
