Ángel Rivero Méndez
| Ángel Rivero Méndez | |
|---|---|
Captain Ángel Rivero Méndez
|
|
| Born |
October 2, 1856 Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico |
| Died | February 23, 1930 (aged 73) Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico |
| Buried at | Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, in San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Service/branch | Spanish Army |
| Years of service | 1882–1898 |
| Rank |
Captain |
| Commands held | 3rd Company of the 12th Artillery Battalion at Fort San Cristobal |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
| Awards | Cruz de la Orden de Merito Militar 1ra Clase destincion Rojo (Order of Military Merit 1st Class) |
| Other work | Invented Kola Champagne |
Captain Ángel Rivero Méndez (October 2, 1856 – February 23, 1930) was a Puerto Rican 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.
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 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 Academy 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 Toledo, a book about the city of 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.
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. He was active in politics in the ranks of the Unconditional Spanish Party.
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.
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