Santiago Iglesias Patin 1870-1939

Senator, labor leader & born in La Coruna, Spain. Jailed as a labor agitator on his first visit to Puerto Rico in 1896. Later was supported in his efforts to improve Puerto Rican labor conditions by the United States Military Governor, General John Brooke, in 1898. He was President of the Free Federation of Workers of Puerto Rico. Which brought about the eight hour workday. He achieved affiliation of the Puerto Rico Labor Federation with the American Federation of Labor in 1901. Organizer and President of the Socialist Party of Puerto Rico in 1916. Served on the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1917 to 1933. Represented Puerto Rico at American Federation of Labor Congress in Oregon in 1923. Elected Resident Commissioner in Washington in 1932. Held post until his death until 1939.