Cuban modernist Writer and national hero whose newspaper, Patria, was instrumental in the campaign for Cuban Independence from Spain. His major works include 10 de Octubre (1869), Ismaelillo (1882), and La edad de oro (1889).
He was arrested by the Spanish government on the charge of treason when he was just sixteen years old. He later received his law degree from the Universidad Literaria.
He has been called the "Apostle of Cuban Independence."
He was born in Havana, Cuba and grew up with seven younger sisters. He later married Carmen Zayas Bazan and had a son named Jose Francisco Marti.
He and Oscar Hijuelos were both Writers of Cuban descent.
