List of people from San Juan, Puerto Rico

This is a list of notable people who were either born in San Juan, Puerto Rico or who were not born in San Juan, but who are or were longtime residents of the city. San Juan has been the birthplace and the place of residence of many Puerto Ricans and people who are not of Puerto Rican heritage who became notable artists, military personnel, politicians, scientists and sportsmen; locally referred to as "Sanjuaneros". The following lists some of them and details their occupation:

List by profession

NameProfessionHéctor Luis AcevedoFormer Mayor of San Juan and Secretary of State of Puerto RicoJosé Miguel Agrelot Actor and comedian, known as "Don Cholito"Ricardo E. AlegríaAnthropologist and archaeologist, known as the "father of modern Puerto Rican archaeology"Manuel A. AlonsoWriter and poetJuan de AmezquitaMember of the Puerto Rican militia who defended Puerto Rico from an invasion by Dutch Captain Balduino Enrico (Boudewijn Hendricksz) in 1625Ricardo AponteUnited States Air Force General; the first Hispanic Director, J-7, of the United States Southern Command, located in Miami, FloridaFélix Arenas GasparPuerto Rican Captain in the Spanish Army who was posthumously awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando, the highest military decoration awarded by the Spanish government, for his actions in the Rif WarJuan Alejo de ArizmendiFirst Puerto Rican to be named Bishop by the Catholic ChurchRaymond AyalaReggaeton singerMaría de las Mercedes Barbudo (1773–1849)First "Independentista", the first Puerto Rican woman to become an advocate of Puerto Rican independenceCarlos Romero BarcelóFormer governor of Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner, senator and mayor of San JuanEddie BenitezMusicianTomás BlancoWriter and historianKristina BrandiProfessional tennis playerGiannina BraschiPoet, novelist, dramatistSila María CalderónFormer governor of Puerto Rico, Secretary of State and mayor of San Juan; the first female governor of Puerto RicoJosé CampechePuerto Rican visual artistDeborah Carthy-DeuMiss Universe 1985Nitza Margarita CintronChief of Space Medicine and Health Care Systems for NASACelestina CorderoEducator, in 1820 founded the first school for girls in San JuanRafael Cordero Educator, known as "the father of public education in Puerto Rico"Christian DanielSinger-songwriter and actorPedro del ValleFirst Hispanic General in the Marine Corps; played an instrumental role in the capture of Okinawa in World War IIStephanie Del ValleModel, Miss World 2016Alberto Díaz, Jr.Rear Admiral, first Hispanic Director of the San Diego Naval District and Balboa Naval HospitalGuillermo Diaz Professional basketball playerJustino Díaz Operatic bass-baritone singer; in 1963, was the first Puerto Rican to win an annual contest held at the Metropolitan Opera of New YorkCarmen Lozano Dumler One of the first Puerto Rican women to become a United States Army officerNicholas EstavilloFirst Puerto Rican and the first Hispanic in the history of the NYPD to reach the three-star rank of Chief of PatrolNew York, NY - Veteran NYPD Chief Of Patrol To RetireCano EstremeraSalsa singerSalvador E. FelicesFirst Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (2-star) in the United States Air ForceGigi FernándezProfessional tennis player; first Puerto Rican woman to win an Olympic gold medal (representing the U.S.) and the first to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of FameEnrique FigueroaOlympic sailor; the only sailor of Puerto Rico to win four gold medals in the Central American-Caribbean GamesManuel Goded LlopisHigh-ranking Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army; joined Spanish General Francisco Franco in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government (also known as Spanish loyalists) in the Spanish Civil WarWilfredo GómezFormer boxer and three-time world championIsabel GonzálezActivist who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenshipDiego E. HernándezFirst Hispanic to be named Vice Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)Raul JuliaActorJavier LópezMajor League Baseball pitcherJavy LópezFormer Major League Baseball catcherOlin Pierre LouisHaitian priest at the Iglesia San Mateo de Cangrejos Mike LowellMajor League Baseball playerLuis Muñoz MarínFirst Puerto Rican elected governorRicky MartinSinger and actorTony MartinezActor, singer, and bandleaderKenneth McClintock13th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico; 22nd Secretary of State; former senator and City CouncilmanAndy MontañezSalsa singerJosé Trías MongeFormer Chief Justice, Attorney General of Puerto Rico and member of Puerto Rico's Constitutional ConventionOssie OcasioBoxer and former world Cruiserweight championCarlos Obed Baerga OrtizMajor League Baseball playerLuis PadialBrigadier General in the Spanish Army; politician; important figure in the abolishment of slavery in Puerto RicoDr. Hernán PadillaPhysician; former Mayor of San Juan; Puerto Rico House Majority LeaderJosé Enrique PedreiraMusician and composerJoaquin PhoenixActor who earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator and received wider recognition for his portrayal of musician Johnny Cash in Walk the LineCarlos PonceMajor League Baseball playerJosé M. PortelaRetired officer of the United States Air Force; in 1972 became the youngest C-141 Starlifter aircraft commanderJorge PosadaNew York Yankees catcherRamón Power y GiraltAmong the first native-born Puerto Ricans to refer to himself as a "Puerto Rican" and to fight for the equal representation of Puerto Rico in front of the parliamentary government of SpainSamuel R. QuiñonesLawyer and 5th President of the Puerto Rican SenateCarlos D. Ramirez (1946–1999)Publisher of El Diario La PrensaRavo, Nick. "Carlos D. Ramirez, 52, Publisher of El Diario", The New York Times, July 13, 1999. Accessed October 9, 2009.Marion Frederic Ramírez de ArellanoCaptain; first Hispanic submarine commanding officer in the United States NavyReyna Avila Ramírez-ArellanoPraetor, Roman demigod, character in the book series The Heroes of OlympusFelisa Rincón de GautierFormer Mayor of San Juan; Democratic National Committeewoman; first woman to be elected mayor of a capital city in the AmericasPablo Hernández Rivera21st Resident Commissioner of Puerto RicoAugusto RodríguezLieutenant in the United States Union Army; member of the 15th Connecticut Regiment (aka Lyon Regiment); during the American Civil War he served in the defenses of Washington, D.C.; led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork"The Puerto Rican diaspora: historical perspectives"; By Carmen Teresa Whalen, Víctor Vázquez-Hernandez; page 176; Publisher: Temple University Press; ; Augusto RodríguezFounder of Choir of the University of Puerto RicoJohanna RosalyActress and television hostDr. Pedro RossellóFormer governor, senator and San Juan Municipal Health DirectorFrancisco Rovira RullánArt dealerSa-FireFreestyle artistJorge SantiniFormer Mayor of San Juan and senatorDaniel SantosBoxerAntulio SegarraOfficer in the United States Army; in 1943 became the first Puerto Rican to command a Regular Army RegimentGeovany SotoCurrent Chicago Cubs catcher, 2008 National League Rookie of the YearCristina Takacs-VesbachAntarctic researcher, microbial ecologistFermín TangüisDeveloped the seed that would eventually produce the Tanguis cotton in Peru, which saved that nation's cotton industryDayanara Torres1993 Miss Universe pageant winnerPedro VázquezFormer Puerto Rico Secretary of StateSamuel E VázquezVisual artistAníbal Acevedo ViláFormer Governor and Resident Commissioner of Puerto RicoRoberto Sánchez VilellaFormer governor, first Secretary of State, Secretary of Public Works and San Juan City Administrator

Due to space limitations it is almost impossible to list all of the people of San Juan who have distinguished themselves; therefore, a category has been created to this effect:

References