2-612-749 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Felix Varela, philosopher and patriot, born in Havana in 1788. He was a Roman Catholic priest and independence leader who is regarded as a notable figure in the Catholic Church in Cuba and the United States. In 1811 he was named a philosophy professor. In 1821 Varela was chosen to represent Cuba in the Cortes Generales of Spain in Madrid, where he joined in a petition to the Crown for the independence of Latin America, and also published an essay which argued for the abolition of slavery in Cuba. After fleeing to the United States, in New York, he founded 'El Habanero', the first Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, publishing many articles about human rights, as well as multiple essays on religious tolerance, cooperation between the English and Spanish-speaking communities, and the importance of education. He died in Florida in 1853. Cigar card from the History of Cuba, Geografico Universal, Propaganda de los Cigarros Susini y La Corona, Tabacalera Cubana.