Ángel Rivero Méndez

Infobox Military Person
name=Ángel Rivero-Méndez
born= birth date|1856|10|2
died= death date and age|1930|2|23|1856|10|2
placeofbirth= Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
placeofdeath=Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
placeofburial= Old San Juan cemetery, Puerto Rico


caption=Captain Ángel Rivero-Méndez
nickname=
allegiance=
branch= Spanish Army
serviceyears=1882-1898
rank=Captain
commands=3rd Company of the 12th Artillery Battalion at Fort San Cristobal
unit=
battles=Spanish-American War
awards=Cruz de la Orden de Merito Militar
laterwork=Invented "Kola Champagne"

Ángel Rivero-Méndez (October 2, 1856 – February 23, 1930) was a soldier, writer, journalist and a businessman who is credited with inventing the "Kola Champagne" soft drink. As a soldier in the Spanish Army, Rivero fired the first shot against the United States in Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War. [http://perso.wanadoo.es/padron/rivero/ Spanish American War -Rivero Biography] ] [ [http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/index.htm Spanish American War in Puerto Rico] ]

Early years

Ángel Rivero-Méndez was born on October 2, 1856 in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico to Juan Rivero and Rosa Méndez, who had immigrated to Puerto Rico from the Canary Islands. Rivero received his primary and secondary education at the "Colegio de Jesuitas" in Santurce (a section of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico). After graduation, he enlisted in the Spanish Army and entered the Infantry Academy of Puerto Rico. He was given an officer's commission upon graduation from the Acadamy on August 2, 1882.

On October 16, 1882, Rivero married Manuela Boneta Babel from San Juan. In 1885, he was accepted in the General Military Academy of Toledo in Spain. There, he wrote a book about the city of Toledo, titled "Toledo". In 1886, Rivero was transferred to the Academy of Artillery in Segovia and, on February 28, 1889, he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering.

Military career

On January 1, 1890, Rivero returned to Puerto Rico and was assigned to the 12th Battalion of Plaza. He taught at the Military Preparatory Academy in San Juan and, in 1896, was promoted to the rank of captain.

As a captain, he was assigned to teach math and chemistry at the Civil Institution of Secondary Education. During this time in his life, he became active in politics as member of the Unconditional Spanish Party. Rivero also founded a newspaper called "La Integridad Nacional" (The National Integrity), a political paper which represented the views of the party. Rivero, along with some others was expelled from the party and together they formed another political party. An article criticizing the government, written by Rivero, was published and as a consequence, he was arrested and sent to jail. Due to the rumors of war, he was pardoned by Governor Macias and, on March 1, 1898, was assigned the command of the 3rd Company of the 12th Artillery Battalion at Fort San Cristobal in San Juan.

Spanish-American War

When the United States declared war against Spain, the U.S. Navy sent the USS "Yale" to form a blockade in San Juan Bay. On May 10, 1898, Captain Rivero-Méndez ordered his men to fire upon the "Yale", thus becoming the first attack against the Americans in Puerto Rico of Spanish-American War. For his actions, he was awarded the "Cruz de la Orden de Merito Militar" (The Cross of the Order of the Military Merit) first class. However, the residents of San Juan were furious with Rivero and blamed him for the destruction caused to their city by the responding bombardments. Nothing came of those accusations and Puerto Rico became a possession of the United States as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Rivero-Méndez was ordered to turn over the keys of all the military installations in San Juan to Captain Henry A. Reed of the U.S. Army. Captain Rivero-Méndez was offered a military position by both the American and Spanish governments. He declined both offers and, on April 18, 1899, he officially retired from the Spanish Army.

Kola Champagne

After Rivero retired, he founded the "Fabrica Polo Norte" (North Pole Factory) a soft drink company. Rivero is credited with the invention and elaboration of the "Kola Champagne" soda. Kola Champagne not only became, and still is, a very popular drink in Puerto Rico, but it is also elaborated and sold in other countries, such the United States, Colombia, Jamaica and Mexico. He dedicated his spare time to obtaining records and information for the book he was writing on the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico. He also wrote articles for the newspapers "El Imparcial", "El Mundo" and "La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico", where he defended Puerto Rican nationalism. In 1922, Rivero published his book "Crónica de la Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico" (Chronicles of the Spanish American War in Puerto Rico), which is considered one of the most complete works written in regard to that military action.

Later years

Rivero and his wife wife were devotees of the Virgin of Lourdes. In 1924, he built a shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes, on his land in Trujillo Alto. The shrine, which still stands today and is considered an important landmark of the area, was blessed by San Juan's Bishop Jorge Caruana on January 6, 1925.

Angel Rivero-Méndez suffered from severe depression and on February 23, 1930, he committed suicide by shooting himself in his house located in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. His remains are buried in the Old San Juan cemetery.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*Puerto Rican Campaign
*Military history of Puerto Rico

References