Famous Cuban Leaders

Son of Spanish immigrants, Jose Marti spent his childhood in a strife-torn Cuba and attended high school on financial aid. Marti’s poems, essays, and articles were laced with his patriotic vigor to free Cuba from the Spanish rule. He died battling on the field at Dos Ríos.

Miguel Díaz-Canel is a Cuban politician and the current president of Cuba. As president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel has made several international trips, visiting places like India, Azerbaijan, and Russia. He has also interacted with presidents and prime ministers of several countries. In 2018, he was honored with the prestigious Order of the Liberator by the government of Venezuela.

Serving as the Cuban prime minister from 1959 to 1976 and as president from 1976 to 2008, Fidel Castro was one of the most prominent Cuban leaders in the history. As the longest-reigning non-royal head of the 20th and 21st centuries, Castro was responsible for making Cuba a communist state.

Camilo Cienfuegos was a Cuban revolutionary who was part of the 1956 Granma expedition alongside Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. He went on to become one of Fidel Castro's top guerrilla commanders and played an important role in winning the Battle of Yaguajay, which earned him the nickname Hero of Yaguajay. Camilo Cienfuegos is revered as a hero in Cuba.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a Cuban-born American politician and lobbyist. She is best known for representing Florida's 27th congressional district at the U.S. House of Representatives from 29 August 1989 to 3 January 2019. The first female Republican to be elected from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is also the first Cuban-American politician elected to Congress.

Fulgencio Batista was the elected president of Cuba from 1940 to 1944. He formed the constitution of Cuba. He later became a dictator through a coup. He was finally ousted by Che Guevara at the Battle of Santa Clara, as part of Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement.

Gerardo Machado was a Cuban politician remembered for his service as the President of Cuba from 20 May 1925 to 12 August 1933. He also played a key role in the Cuban War of Independence where he served as a general. Regarded as a dictator, Machado continued to serve as the president after his first term amidst protests and rebellions. 

Carlos Prío Socarrás was a Cuban politician best remembered for his service as the 11th President of Cuba from 10 October 1948 to 10 March 1952. Just three months before the new elections, Prío was deposed by a coup led by Fulgencio Batista. Carlos Prío Socarrás lived in the USA for 25 years prior to his suicide at age 73.  

Vilma Espín Guillois was a Cuban revolutionary, chemical engineer, and feminist. She is best remembered as an adamant feminist who helped organize a vanguard revolutionary organization called 26th of July Movement, which later became a political party. Vilma Espín also helped establish the Federation of Cuban Women. She also advocated equal rights for women in all aspects of life.

Ramón Grau was a Cuban physician best remembered for his service as the 7th and 14th President of Cuba between 1933 and 1948. Although his first term as the president didn’t last long, Grau went on to become the president again in 1944 and served full term. He also served at the University of Havana as a professor of physiology.

Máximo Gómez was a Cuban military man who served as the Major General in the Ten Years' War against Spain. He also served as a military commander in the Cuban War of Independence. Máximo Gómez is best remembered for his notorious scorched-earth policy which included torching the Spanish sugar plantations and dynamiting passenger trains.

Juan Almeida Bosque was a Cuban politician best remembered as one of the original commanders who led several militant groups during the early days of the Cuban Revolution. Juan Almeida Bosque went on to become an important member of the Communist Party of Cuba and received several national and international awards such as the Order of Máximo Gómez.

Celia Sánchez was a Cuban revolutionary, researcher, politician, and archivist. A close colleague of Fidel Castro, Sánchez played an important role in the Cuban Revolution. She was one of the founders of a revolutionary organization called 26th of July Movement. She was also the first woman to become a part of the guerilla. Sánchez is considered a heroine in Cuba.

Rocío Monasterio is a Spanish-Cuban businesswoman, architect, and right wing politician. Monasterio is currently leading the Madrid branch of a political party called Vox and is serving as a Member of the Assembly of Madrid. An architect by training, Rocío Monasterio designed the house where she is currently living with her family.

Tomás Estrada Palma was a Cuban politician who served as the first President of Cuba after Cuba's independence in 1902. During his presidency, Cuba's infrastructure, public health, and communication improved significantly. Tomás Estrada Palma had also played an important role during the Ten Years' War, serving as the Cuban Republican in Arms' president.

Huber Matos was a Cuban activist, military leader, political dissident, and writer. He is best remembered for his rebellion against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista alongside Che Guevara and Fidel Castro among others. After the success of the Revolution, he continued to criticize Fidel Castro's government. Huber Matos was then convicted of treason and spent 20 years in prison.

Carlos Manuel de Céspedes was a Cuban revolutionary who declared Cuban independence and became the first president of Cuba in 1868. His actions started the famous Ten Years' War, the first of three wars that led to the independence of Cuba in 1902. Since Carlos' actions led to Cuba's independence, he is referred to as the Father of the Fatherland.

Julio Antonio Mella was a Cuban political activist. One of the original founders of the Communist Party of Cuba, Mella is best remembered for his work against the Gerardo Machado regime. Julio Antonio Mella was assassinated in 1929 and is considered a martyr and communist hero by the Cuban government of the 21st century. 

Haydée Santamaría was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who is considered a heroine in post-revolutionary Cuba. She was among a small group of people who took part in the attack on Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953, in Santiago de Cuba. Haydée Santamaría was also one of the first women to become a part of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Dominican author and politician José Núñez de Cáceres was behind the creation of the short-lived state of Spanish Haiti, which was taken over by Haiti after 2 months. He spent his later years in Venezuela and Mexico. He was also one of the first Creole fabulists and owned a satirical newspaper.

Damaso Berenguer was a Spanish politician and general best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Spain from 30 January 1930 to 18 February 1931. He is credited with founding the Fuerzas Regulares Indígenas, volunteer infantry units of the Spanish Army. 

Manuel Márquez Sterling was a Cuban diplomat best remembered for his service as an interim President of Cuba on January 18, 1934; he served as the president for six hours before he was replaced by another interim President Carlos Mendieta. Manuel Márquez Sterling also served in the Cuban War of Independence and later served as the ambassador to the USA.

Manuel Piñeiro was a Cuban military and political figure who served as a leader during the Cuban Revolution. He was chosen as the Commander of the Revolution during the famous battle for Santiago de Cuba. He also played a key role in establishing intelligence agencies during the new Castro regime.

Melba Hernández was a Cuban diplomat and politician. She is best remembered for her service as the Ambassador to Cambodia and Vietnam during the Fidel Castro regime in the 1980s. Melba Hernández was also an active participant in the Cuban Revolution; she was among the best-known women that fought in the Revolutionary war against Fulgencio Batista alongside Fidel Castro.

Antonio Sánchez de Bustamante y Sirven was a Cuban politician, lawyer, educator, and international jurist. He is best remembered for his service as the judge of the World Court, which was founded by the League of Nations.

Laura Pollán was a Cuban political leader best remembered for founding an opposition movement and a dissident group called Ladies in White. Pollán became a key opposition figure after the arrest of her husband along with 74 other Cubans as part of a crackdown on opposition figures. Laura Pollán also served as a literature teacher until 2004.