Carlos Juan Finlay

Carlos Juan Finlay Physician Cuban American 1833–1915

Carlos Juan Finlay solved the mystery of what caused yellow fever. This deadly disease had no known cure just over 100 years ago and killed thousands of people. In 1881, he discovered that mosquitoes spread yellow fever, but he could not prove it. Other scientists did not believe him. They made fun of him, calling him the mosquito man. Eventually, because of the work of Finlay and Walter Reed, another important physician, scientists were able to develop a vaccine using diseased mosquitoes and conquer this disease.

Loreta Janeta Velázquez Civil War Soldier Cuban American 1842–Year of Death Unknown

Loreta Janeta Velázquez wanted to fight for her side in the Civil War and didn't want to be stopped because she was a woman. She disguised herself as a man named Harry Buford, even wearing a fake mustache, and joined the Confederate forces. She was discovered only after she was injured in battle.

Severo Ochoa Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine and Physiology Spanish American 1905–1993

Severo Ochoa won the Nobel Prize in 1959 for medicine. He received the prize for his discovery of the process that would allow humans to create RNA in a test tube — a vital life substance that makes cells work and grow. This knowledge can be useful in understanding many things about the body, like why some cells stay healthy while tumors grow in others.

Corky Gonzales Community Organizer Mexican American Born 1928

Corky Gonzales became an important leader for young and poor Mexican Americans in the 1960s. In Denver, he started The Crusade for Justice, a group that pushed for civil rights and equality for Mexican Americans. Gonzales wrote the poem I Am Joaquín, which helped people to understand the struggles faced by Mexican Americans. César Chávez Union Leader Mexican American 1927–1993

César Chávez came from a family of poor migrant workers. Through the experiences of his family, he knew the hard lives led by farm workers who came to work in California from Mexico. They had to live in dirty, cramped places and earned little money. In 1962, with Dolores Huerta, he started a group to change these terrible conditions — the United Farm Workers of America. At first the workers were afraid of the produce growers. But Chávez inspired the group and led peaceful protests and boycotts. These actions convinced the growers to sign contracts with the farm workers and to treat them better.

Jaime Escalante Teacher Bolivian American Born 1930

Jaime Escalante is a teacher who has changed the lives of Latino students in poor neighborhoods in Los Angeles. When he first came to Garfield High School, many of his students were failing. Escalante fought for better textbooks and inspired his students to succeed by setting high standards and winning over his tough students. The movieStand and Deliver is about how his students proved they could succeed by passing a very difficult math test before college.

Roberto Clemente Baseball Player Puerto Rican 1934–1972

Proud of his Puerto Rican roots, Roberto Clemente drew attention to the excellence of Latin American players in Major League baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s. A player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was the first Puerto Rican to be voted Most Valuable Player. A great fielder and hitter, Clemente was loved by many because of his deep concern for people and work on behalf of his native Puerto Ricans. Clemente was killed in a plane crash on his way to take supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve 1972. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.

Rita Moreno Actor Puerto Rican Born 1932

Rita Moreno is one of only two female performers ever to be given all four of entertainment's biggest awards. She has won a Tony, for theater; a Grammy, for music; an Emmy, for television; and an Oscar for her role in the musical West Side Story. (Barbara Streisand is the other.) She has acted in more than 25 movies and has performed for the president of the United States. Antonia C. Novello Doctor, Former United States Surgeon General Puerto Rican Born 1944

In 1990, Antonia Novello became the first Hispanic person — and first woman as well — to be appointed as Surgeon General, the chief doctor in the United States. As a child, she had a chronic illness that hurt her digestion, causing her great suffering. She never forgot that experience. As surgeon general, Novello especially campaigned for better care for children. She also paid special attention to the problems of alcoholism, smoking, AIDS, and violence.

Franklin R. Chang-Díaz Astronaut Costa Rican American Born 1950

Raised in a poor family in Costa Rica, Franklin Chang-Díaz studied hard to become a scientist. He also became a U.S. citizen. Chang-Díaz was the first Hispanic person to enter the space program, becoming an astronaut in 1981. He is a veteran of six space missions and has spent nearly 1,300 hours in space

Fernando Bujones Ballet Dancer Cuban American Born 1955

Fernando Bujones is a ballet dancer who is known all over the world. In 1973, he became the first American male to win the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria. This competition is sometimes called the Olympics of the ballet world. Known for his grace and power, Bujones has danced with many ballet companies around the world.

Nancy Lopez Professional Golfer Mexican American Born 1957

Nancy Lopez is one of the greatest women golfers of all time. She had an early start at greatness — she began to play golf at age 8. She was only 12 when she won the New Mexico Women's Amateur tournament. One of the top pro golf money winners of all time, Lopez has won 48 titles. In 1989, she was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame. Gloria Estefan Singer and Musician Cuban American Born 1957

Gloria Estefan has been loved and admired by people throughout the world not only for her music, but for her bravery in the face of difficulties. Born in Cuba, Estefan came to Miami, Florida, as a young child when her parents fled the Communist government of Fidel Castro. In the late 1970s, she became a singer with the group Miami Sound Machine. The group became very famous. Estefan won awards for her music and for her work on causes such as campaigning against drugs. In 1990, a terrible accident occurred. Estefan and her family were traveling in their bus when it was hit by a truck. The singer suffered serious injuries. Through patience, hard work, and good fortune, however, she was able to recover fully and return to the stage. Her music remains appreciated by millions of listeners.

Ellen Ochoa Astronaut Mexican American Born 1958

Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to become an astronaut. A veteran of two space flights, she first flew in space on the shuttleDiscovery in 1993. Sally Ride, the first woman astronaut in the U.S., was one of her role models. Ochoa is not only an astronaut but also an inventor, holding three patents. When she is in space, she says that she loves "looking out the window at the Earth."

Andy Garcia

Actor Cuban-American Born 1956

His major break came after playing opposite Kevin Costner in the 1987 Brian de Palma’s blockbuster movie “The Untouchables.” But what brought this famous Hispanic actor into international stardom was his role as Sonny Corleone’s illegitimate child in “Godfather” Part III — earning him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor in this 1990 classic trilogy.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Congresswoman Cuban American Born 1952

In 1982, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. When she was 7 years old, her family fled Communist forces in Cuba. Today, the Republican congresswoman strongly opposes Communism in Cuba. She advocates for human rights around the world. María Irene Fornés Playwright Cuban American Born 1930

María Irene Fornés has written more than 35 plays, many of them about the lives of Latinos and women. She has won six Obie Awards — the highest award for off-Broadway plays — plus many other honors. She helps young Latinos get started in the theater.

Dolores Huerta Union Leader Mexican American Born 1930

Dolores Huerta has devoted her whole life to better treatment and justice for farm workers. Along with César Chávez, she co-founded the United Farm Workers of America. She negotiated the first labor contract for the migrant farm workers and helped get the growers to agree to stop using dangerous chemicals on grapes. Because of a boycott Huerta led in 1970, urging people not to buy California grapes, the grape industry agreed to treat the workers better.

Federico Peña Former United States Secretary of Transportation, Former Secretary of Energy Mexican American Born 1947

Federico Peña was the highest-ranking Hispanic member of President Bill Clinton's administration. He worked to improve the safety of jets and planes as Secretary of Transportation from 1993–97. Then Peña became Secretary of Energy, from 1997 to 1998. In that position, Peña focused on improving energy research and supporting schools in getting access to the Internet, among other efforts.

Juan Seguín Soldier, Texas State Senator Mexican American 1806–1889

In 1836, Juan Seguín fought for Texan independence from Mexico in the Battle of the Alamo. He survived the siege only because he left to gather reinforcements. Seguín felt the Mexican government had too much power and believed Texans could rule themselves. Although he was elected mayor of San Antonio at one time, he and others of Mexican background were harassed by many white settlers in Texas. He eventually died in Mexico, across the Rio Grande from the land for whose independence he had risked his life. Ezequiel Cabeza de Baca Governor of New Mexico Mexican American 1864–1917

Ezequiel Cabeza de Baca, New Mexico's second governor, was the first ever elected Latino governor in the United States. DeBaca County, New Mexico, is named for him.

Dennis Chávez U.S. Senator Mexican American 1888–1962

As a United States senator, Dennis Chávez battled for the rights of Hispanic residents and Native Americans in his home state, New Mexico. He was a senator for 27 years, from 1935 to 1962. Chávez tried to stop discrimination against workers based on their race, religion, or ethnic background. He played a major role in the establishment of an agency to protect workers, known as the Fair Employment Practices Commission.

Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert Nutritionist, Organizer, Author Spanish American 1898–Year of Death Unknown

Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert was responsible for advances made in making foods safer for people in the Southwest. She taught people all over New Mexico safe ways to preserve food through canning and drying methods. Also, she organized markets where Native American women could sell their handicrafts. As an author, she wrote books on New Mexican traditions and folklore.

Luis Muñoz Marín Governor of Puerto Rico Puerto Rican 1898–1980

After holding many offices in Puerto Rico and improving ties with the U.S., Luis Muñoz Marín was the first governor elected by the people of Puerto Rico in 1947. He was one of the people who drafted Puerto Rico's constitution and helped lead Puerto Rico in becoming a self-governing Commonwealth. Muñoz Marín worked for the cause of poor people to own land and also to draw businesses to Puerto Rico.