Juan Zorrilla de San Martín

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File:Estatua Juan Zorrilla de San Martín.JPG

Zorrilla sculpture in Montevideo by his son José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín

The patriarch Zorrilla and his family

Zorrilla museum in Montevideo

Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (28 December 1855 – 3 November 1931) was an Uruguayan epic poet and political figure. He is referred to as the "National Poet of Uruguay".<ref>'Juan Zorrilla de San Martín', Wikipedia (in Spanish), es:Juan Zorrilla de San Martín.</ref>

Well-known poemsEdit

Two of Zorrilla's best-known poems are Tabaré (the national poem for Uruguayans) and La leyenda patria ("The Fatherland Legend"). He also wrote the Hymn to the Tree (Himno al Arbol), a well-known Spanish poem later made a song in several Latin-American countries.

Personal backgroundEdit

As a political figure, Zorrilla served as a Deputy for Montevideo from 1888 to 1991 and served as ambassador several periods. He also worked as a journalist and helped establish the Catholic newspaper El Bien Público.

He was twice widowed, and left 13 children when he died, one of whom was José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín. His grandson Alejandro Zorrilla de San Martín was to serve as a prominent Deputy, Minister and Senator. One of his granddaughters was actress China Zorrilla. Another granddaughter, Guma Zorrilla, was a theater costume designer.

HonoursEdit

Zorrilla's home in Montevideo is now a museum. He was featured in the 20,000 pesos banknote (1989–1991),<ref>Uruguay 20.000 Nuevos Pesos Bank note museum</ref> and is featured on the 20 pesos note (since 1994).<ref>Uruguay 20 Pesos Uruguayos Banknote.ws. Accessed 12 November 2022.</ref>

WorksEdit

PoemsEdit

Notas de un himno (1877)
La leyenda patria (1879)
Tabaré (1888)
La epopeya de Artigas (1910)
Rimas y leyendas:
- El ángel de los charrúas
- Imposible
- Odio y amor
- Siemprevivas
- Tu y yo
- Himno al árbol
- Vestales