Antonio Fernós Isern | |
|---|---|
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| Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico | |
| In office September 11, 1946 – January 3, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Jesús T. Piñero |
| Succeeded by | Santiago Polanco Abreu |
| Member of theSenate of Puerto Rico from At-large district | |
| In office 1965–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1895-05-10)May 10, 1895 |
| Died | January 19, 1974(1974-01-19) (aged 78) |
| Resting place | Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery |
| Political party | Popular Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park (MD) |
Antonio Fernós Isern (May 10, 1895 – January 19, 1974) was the first Puerto Ricancardiologist and the longest serving Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico in theUnited States Congress.[1]
Fernós Isern was born inSan Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, and attended primary and intermediate schools inCaguas. His family moved toBloomsburg, Pennsylvania, during his mid-year in high school. He finished his high school education in thePennsylvania State Normal School. After completing his pre-medical training, he applied and was accepted to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of theUniversity of Maryland, College Park and earned his doctor's degree in May 1915.[2]
Fernós Isern returned to the island and settled in the city ofCaguas where he practiced medicine for two years. Between the years 1918 and 1933 he held various administrative positions in the health services of Puerto Rico. In 1918, he was the Director for the City of San Juan. From 1919 to 1921, Fernós Isern was the Under-Secretary of Health. From 1921 to 1923, he was the Director of Health in the city. From 1923 to 1929, Fernós Isern was once again Under-Secretary of Health. He was the Secretary of Health from 1930 to 1933.[3]
In 1933, Fernós Isern resigned as health commissioner and went toNew York City where he completed his residency in cardiology atColumbia University and thus became the first Puerto Rican cardiologist. Upon his later return to Puerto Rico, Fernós Isern became a professor at the Public School of Tropical Medicine of Puerto Rico.[4] He had previously served as both assistant professor and associate professor at this institution.[3]
In 1937, Fernós Isern joinedLuis Muñoz Marín to organize thePartido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party). In 1941, he served as the Director of Civil Defense for theSan Juan Metropolitan Area. In 1942, he returned to head the Department of Health and the Administration of Public Housing, in addition to serving as Director of the War Effort Office for Puerto Rico. From 1943 to 1946, Fernós Isern was also the acting governor of Puerto Rico during the Governorship ofRexford G. Tugwell, under appointment as Permanent Acting Governor approved by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.[2]
In 1946,Jesús T. Piñero, the first Puerto Rican to serve as governor of Puerto Rico, appointed Fernós Isern as his replacement in the position of Resident Commissioner to theU.S. Congress after unanimous endorsement from the island legislature. Fernós Isern was re-elected on four consecutive occasions, serving a total of nineteen years. As Resident Commissioner, Fernós Isern played a very important role in convincing theGovernment of the United States to give Puerto Ricans the right to govern their island. In 1947, the Crawford Project, allowing Puerto Ricans to elect their governor, was approved by Congress and signed into law by PresidentHarry S Truman.[2]
On June 8, 1950, theUnited States Senate approved Public Law 600, permitting Puerto Rico to establish its own constitutional local autonomous government. Fernós Isern served as president of theConstitutional Convention which drafted theConstitution of the Commonwealth (Estado Libre Asociado).[5]
Fernós Isern did not seek re-election in 1964. He returned to Puerto Rico fromWashington, D.C., and was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate, serving between 1965 and 1969. After he retired from politics, Fernós Isern returned to the University of Puerto Rico as Resident Scholar where he wrote a monumental political work, in two parts, i.e.,El Estado Libre Asociado (The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) andFilosofía y Doctrina del Estadolibrismo (Philosophy and Doctrine of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth).[2]
Fernós Isern died inSan Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 19, 1974, and was buried with full state honors in theSanta María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery located inOld San Juan, Puerto Rico.[3]
His memory is honored at the Capitol in San Juan with a bust facing the urn preserving the originalConstitution of Puerto Rico. His collected papers are held in trust at the Fernós Isern room at theInter American University Law School in Hato Rey, San Juan.[5]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico 1946–1965 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
