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Antonio R. Barceló (April 15, 1868 – October 15, 1938), born in the City of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was a lawyer, businessman and the father of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families.
As a youngster, Barceló took an active interest in politics. He studied in the "Concillier Seminary" of San Juan where he earned a lawyers degree. He then joined the "Autonomist Party" (founded by José de Diego and Román Baldorioty de Castro in 1887) and soon became the party's Secretary.
Barceló left the Party and on October 1, 1899, together with Luis Muñoz Rivera formed the Federal Party, which believed in statehood with the U.S. as the final political solution for Puerto Rico. After this the party was dissolved, Barceló, Luis Muñoz Rivera and Jose de Diego formed the "Union Party of Puerto Rico" and was elected to the Chamber of Delegates in 1905.
In 1914, Barceló, Muñoz Rivera and de Diego were members of an executive council that attempted to form an alliance between the Union and Republican Parties.
In 1917, after Luis Muñoz Rivera passed away, Barceló became the leading force behind the liberal ideas of the island. He was elected to the Senate Puerto Rico and was named President of the Senate from 1917 to 1932.
In 1924, the "Alience Party" was formed and in 1932, was renamed the "Puerto Rican Liberal Party". The Liberal Party's political agenda was a acomplete 180 degrees turn around from the Federal Party's agenda. The Liberal Party fully backed up the idea of independence as a final political solution for Puerto Rico.
By 1937, Luis Muñoz Rivera's son, Luis Muñoz Marín had joined the Liberal Party. Barceló and Muñoz Marín had different points of view as to how Puerto Rico should go about obtaining its independence. Barceló believed that independence should come after some reforms were met. Muñoz Marín believed that Puerto Rico should have its independence right away. This lead to a split in the Liberal Party. Barceló was also a victim of an assassination attempt, but this did not keep him from believing and pursuing his liberal ideas.
Antonio Barceló was responsible for the approval of many laws which lead to reforms and that would greatly benefit the social justice, labor and the economy of Puerto Rico. Barceló helped to establish the minimum wage rate, workers' compensation and limited working hours. Barceló, also played a principal role in the establishmnt of the "Tropical School of Medicine", "The Antituberculosis Santuary" and numerous other centers.
In 1928, Columbia University of New York, honored Barceló by bestowing upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Law.
Ironically, his grandson Carlos Romero Barceló would one day in the future become Governor of Puerto Rico under the agenda of statehood, which Antonio had grown to oppose.
Anonio R. Barceló died in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 15, 1938.
His memory has been honored by Puerto Rico by naming public buildings and schools after him.