Catalina, La India b. 1507 Columbian Folk Figure. She was a young girl, and daughter of a cacique, or native chief, when she was taken prisoner by Spanish Captain Diego de Nicuesa, in Galerazamba. He took her to Santo Domingo, where she was sold as an orphan to a high ranking Spanish official, who baptized and educated her, raising her as if she was his own. When she was about 26, her adoptive mother died, and, with her only sister about to marry, she returned to her native city. Being fluent in both Spanish and the...[Read More] Just outside the city wall, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia
Claver, Peter b. June 26, 1580 d. September 8, 1654 Roman Catholic Saint. A native of Spain, this young Jesuit left his home in 1610 to spend the rest of his life doing mission work in present day Colombia, South America. He was ordained in 1616 in the port city of Cartagena. This city was a major port for the slave trade. An estimated ten thousand slaves from West Africa were brought through there annually. This young priest was so dedicated to the plight of the slaves that he would meet them, often running through the water to board the ship...[Read More] (Bio by: Bigwoo) Saint Peter Claver Church, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia Plot: Encased within the high altar
de Lezo, Don Blas [memorial] b. 1689 d. 1741 Spanish naval hero. Veteran of 23 campaigns. In 1704 fought against Admiral Vernon in the Battle of Gibraltar, and the Battle of VŽlez-M‡laga lost his left leg to a cannonball, fighting French and Anglo-German squadrons. In the Battle of Toulon he lost his left eye, during the assault on Santa Catalina Castle. In 1713, during the Battle of Barcelona, he lost his right arm. In 1741 he was appointed to defend the City of Cartagena against an attacking fleet of 180 ships manned by 28,000 British...[Read More] Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia
Núñez, Rafael Wenceslao b. September 28, 1825 d. September 18, 1894 President of Columbia. Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo twice served as the elected President of Colombia (1880 and 1884). He served in many keys positions throughout his life. He was Circuit Judge in Chiriquí, Panama in 1848 and in the same year began his political career with an appointed as Chief of Staff of Cartagena's government. In 1853, he was elected to the Colombian Congress and in the following year, was elected Governor of the Department of Bolívar. Under President Manuel María...[Read More] (Bio by: Vagabond) El Cabrero Hermitage, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia
b. 1507