Santiago R. Palmer

Santiago Rosendo Palmer Irizarry (February 25, 1844 – March 31, 1906) was a prominent Puerto Rican writer and politician.

Biography
He was born in San Germán, Puerto Rico. He attended his school years in the classrooms of his hometown and later at the Royal Academy of Good Letters. He worked as a clerk (escribano) in the notaries of San Germán, Coamo and Mayagüez, and later in 1882 was appointed as formal Public Notary in Añasco and San Juan.

A supporter of autonomy for Puerto Rico, Santiago R. Palmer contributed to the foundation of the Liberal Reform Party in 1870. He was victim of persecution by the Spanish government authorities, being imprisoned in 1887 with Baldorioty and other Autonomistas.

During the short period of autonomy that Puerto Rico enjoyed between March and July 1898, he was a Representative to the Insular Chamber for Mayagüez.

After the American invasion of Puerto Rico Santiago R. Palmer is elected mayor of Mayagüez and in that position he created a new municipal police force. Santiago R. Palmer: Alcalde de Mayagüez en 1898 by Luís E. Santiago Ramos at "Mayagüez sabe a mangó" ("On August 11, 1898, [...] at nine o'clock in the morning, the rest of the army made up of Captain Alexander Macomb, General Schwan with his General Staff, and the artillery and cavalry units entered the city. [...] The historian Martin Gaudier describes what happened by saying: ''"That day and with Brigadier General Theo Schwan in the power of the Municipality, he let the crowd gathered there in front of the Mayor's Office know that they should select by acclamation the citizen they wanted for Mayor; that he, Schwan, was going to name the candidates who had submitted it to him, and that through applause from those present he would express himself to the preferred one. Indeed, and through his interpreter, I first mention the name of Don Pascasio Fajardo Cardona; then he mentioned the names of Don Diego García St. Laurent, Don Mariano Riera Palmer and others. Each name received a corresponding round of applause and cheers. Lastly, he mentioned the person who had handed over the Municipal Government to him, the eminent and much loved physician Dr. Eliseo Font y Guillot. The crowd gathered there overflowed with cheers, shouts and thunderous applause for Dr. Font and Guillot."'' [...] General Schwan proceeded to proclaim Font and Guillot mayor of Mayagüez. Hours later, the newly elected mayor resigned from his position, alleging that his multiple duties as a doctor prevented him from exercising his functions as mayor. [...] Santiago R. Palmer, a 54-year-old notary, autonomist and Freemason, was selected in a second attempt to obtain a new mayor. [...] Palmer would be an attractive figure to serve as his mayor. An efficient administrator if we consider that he was the founder of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico that required a great organizational effort and the persecution of the Spanish authorities, in addition to having served as secretary and notary of some towns.") Retrieved November 15, 2021 During the American military government he belonged to the "Advisory Board" of General George Davis. He was vice president and later president of the newly created Federal Party and also later helped to found the successor Union Party of Puerto Rico. From 1903 he was a Representative to the House of Delegates until his death in San Juan on March 31, 1906. He was buried at Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery.

Freemasonry
Santiago R. Palmer helped founding the first official national lodge of Puerto Rico: the Logia Adelphia in Mayagüez on September 20, 1885. Also he was one of the first and most prominent members of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Puerto Rico, of which he was the first Grand Master.

Monuments

 * The San Germán Convention Center wears its name.
 * The Main Public Square of Caguas, Puerto Rico also bears his name.
 * A street in Downtown Mayagüez from former Eugenio María de Hostos High School building eastward to Oriente Street.

Schools

 * A public High School and a segunda unidad (elementary school) in Camuy, Puerto Rico
 * A former elementary public school in Salinas, Puerto Rico (now closed).
 * Another former elementary public school in Las Marías, Puerto Rico (now closed)