José Martí, born on January 28th, 1853 in Havana, Cuba, passed away on May 19th, 1895 in Dos Ríos, Cuba at the age of 42. A man of many trades and talents, José was a poet, an essayist, a translator, and a publisher. He was deeply devoted to the freedom of his home country, Cuba, and is most notably remembered for leading the Cuban War of Independence against the Spanish Empire in 1895. In his youth, he gained international notoriety as a writer for his naturist and humanist works, such as Ismaelillo. He also wrote extensively about his home country's culture and politics, using his works to advocate for Cuba's freedom and sovereignty. He was an early leader of Cuban independence, involved in the revolution from the early 1880s, and appointed as Cuba's national hero in 1953. José's unwavering commitment to Cuba's freedom lives on in modern generations. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.