Virgilio Davila Biography

Virgilio Dávila (January 28, 1869 - August 22, 1943), was a Puerto Rican poet, an educator, politician and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.

Dávila and his wife had a son on October 7, 1898, José Antonio Dávila, in the City of Bayamón, who would one day take after his father and become a well known poet himself. His experiences as a teacher and in agriculture created an immense love for his country which was later reflected in his poetry. In 1903, Dávila published his first book of poems "Patria". In this book he included poems which he wrote about Jose de Diego, Federico Degetau and Lola Rodríguez de Tió. He also included poems about the island and love in general. In 1904, Dávila became director of the weekly publication "Chantelier", which he co-founded with Braulio Dueño Colon.

In 1905, Dávila ran for Mayor of the Municipality of Bayamon. He won the election and served as the municipality's mayor from 1905 to 1910.

Together with Dueño Colon and Manuel Fernandez Juncos, he prepared a book of school songs. Dávila wrote many poems that were published in many publications and newspapers of the day. He also wrote a book for his grandchildren, titled A Book for my Grandchildren in 1928. Dávila style, considered traditional, was greatly influenced by Victor Hugo.