Carlos Cabrera y Martínez


Carlos Cabrera y Martínez was interim Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1 November 1866 to 19 December 1866. He was interim mayor, together with Francisco Romero, and both performed as interim corregidors until Colonel Enrique O'Neil became the appointed corregidor on 20 December 1866 for the remainder of that year and into 1867.

Background

As a young man, Cabrera y Martínez liked to write poems. As an adult, he was a sugar cane hacendado farmer and was several times appointed a Diputado Provincial as well as other prominent positions in the Ponce society.
Cabrera y Martinez had his house at the northeast corner of Calle Cristina and Calle Marina, across from Plaza Las Delicias. His house had belonged to José Ortiz de la Renta. During the planning years for the construction of the Asilo de Damas de Ponce, founded on 9 April 1863, Cabrera Martínez lent his house for the shelter-to-be board of directors to meet and perform all the necessary planning and organizing for the construction and opening of the shelter. During these meetings they also created the Shelter Foundation's by-laws, which was later approved by the Spanish Crown on 11 November 1863. He was also an active member of the Casino de Ponce, having lent his spacious home as a headquarters for the casino in July 1876, when the society has 105 member.

Mayoral term

Cabrera y Martínez is known to have been of liberal ideas and opinions. During his mayoral term, a conference was convened in Madrid by order of the Spanish Overseas Minister, named Antonio Canovanas del Castillo, to discuss matters related to social, political, and economic issues. A representative from the ayuntamiento was to attend, and Ponce elected Luis Antonio Becerra, who didn't attend for political reasons related to slavery n Puerto Rico.