A Fire Destroyed Two-thirds of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 1841

Today in Latin American history, a fire destroyed two-thirds of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 1841.

The fire burned 300 out of the 500 existing housing units in town.

The town was rebuilt with some of its main roads widened as to prevent any future fires to spread quickly.

The Spanish military governor of Puerto Rico, Gen. Santiago de Méndez Vigo personally raised funding through a subscription fund to rebuild the entire city; eventually one of Mayagüez’s three main thoroughfares was named in his honor.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, Cuban baseball player Sandy Amorós who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers was born in 1930

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian physician Manuel de Abreu whose research impacted the medicine died in 1962

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian footballer Juninho Pernambucano who played for the National team & Olympique Lyonnais was born in 1975