He was a prominent Cuban independence fighter. A few days before his death, in a letter addressed to his brother, he regretted not having fallen in battle against the Spanish forces but that he would know how to die like those who defend human rights and happy because the independence of Cuba was just matter of time. A few moments before his execution at the Castillo del Príncipe in Havana, he shouted with particular firmness: A man dies, but a people is born!

Príncipe Castle

It is one of the old defensive fortresses of the city of Havana during the colonial era. It was built on the ArósteguiHill and engineer Agustín Cramer Mañera was commissioned for the purpose. He used the plans of engineer Abarca and works began in 1767 and were completely finished after 1779 by Brigadier Luis Huet, who modified the original plans. It was given the name of Castillo del Príncipe, by the then heir to the Royal Crown of Spain, Prince Don Carlos. Over the years the fortress underwent changes and became the most important prison in the city of Havana, officially becoming the Havana Jail.