| Dr. Agustín Stahl | |
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The first renowned Puerto Rican scientist |
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| Born | January 21, 1842 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico |
| Died | July 12, 1917 Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | medical doctor, scientist |
| Notes
Stahl has a genus, Stahlia, and five valid species, Argythamnia stahlii, Senna pendula var. stahlii , Eugenia stahlii, Lyonia stahlii, and Ternstroemia stahlii, named in his honor.
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Dr. Agustín Stahl (January 21, 1842 – July 12, 1917), was a medical doctor and the first renowned Puerto Rican scientist, with diverse interests in the fields of ethnology, botany and zoology. He advocated Puerto Rico's independence from Spain.
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Stahl was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. He studied at the universities of Würzburg and Prague (presently known as Charles University in Prague), graduating from the latter with the title of Doctor of Medicine in 1864. After graduation Stahl returned to Puerto Rico where he established his medical practice in the city of Bayamón.
Outside work, Stahl's love of nature lead him to conduct investigations and experiments in the fields of ethnology, botany and zoology. He also had a love of history and historical investigation.
Stahl wrote "Estudios sobre la flora de Puerto Rico" (A study of the Puerto Rican Flora), published in 6 fascicles from 1883-88. Copies of Stahl's plant collection with approximately 1,330 plants can be found in various botanical gardens around the world. His collections were the basis for numerous studies by specialists, some of them resulting in new taxa to science.[1]
Stahl has a genus, Stahlia, and five valid species, Argythamnia stahlii, Senna pendula var. stahlii , Eugenia stahlii, Lyonia stahlii, and Ternstroemia stahlii, named in his honor.[2] The genus Stahlia is represented by a single species, S. monosperma (Tul.) Urb., known to occur only in Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic. Known in Puerto Rico as Cóbana Negra, this species is currently listed as threatened in the USFW Federal Register, April 5, 1990.
Stahl's written works include:
Stahl received many awards and recognition from such entities as the Spanish Anthropological Society, the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Barcelona, and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Catalonia.
The custom of adorning Christmas trees in Puerto Rico began in the city of Bayamón in 1866 when Stahl adorned his tree in his back yard. The people of Bayamón baptized his tree "El Arbol de Navidad del Doctor Stahl" (Dr. Stahl's Christmas tree).[4]
Stahl was a firm believer that Puerto Rico should obtain independence from Spain, and was a member of the "Partido Autonomista Puertorriqueño", or Puerto Rican Autonomist Party. This group sought to create a separate political and legal identity for Puerto Rico while emulating Spain in all political matters. However, due to Stahl's political views, he was expelled from his position in the Civil Institute of Natural Sciences in Spain and was deported from Spain in 1898.
Stahl died in the city of Bayamón and his remains are buried in Bayamón's Municipal Cemetery. The city of Bayamón turned his former house into a museum to be enjoyed by all those who wish to learn more about him and his work. The Puerto Rican sculptor Tomás Batista created a bust to honor Stahl which can be found at the University of Cayey.