Benigno Souza Rodríguez

One of the highest glories of our Medical Science, a Surgeon of outstanding prestige and historian.

He was born at the sugar mill "Arratia", in Pedro Betancourt, Matanzas, on May 21, 1872; his parents were Don Benigno Souza, Administrator of sugar mills, and Doña Petrona Rodríguez. He completed his primary studies at the "El Progreso" school, run by Don Bernabé de la Torre, graduating as a Bachelor from the Instituto de la Habana, and obtaining the Extraordinary and unique Prize awarded in 1892 for the best Bachelor's Degree.

He then went to the University and obtained one of the two positions of Teaching Assistant that existed in 1896 at the Faculty of Medicine, replacing José Antonio Presno, another student already distinguished for his knowledge. He graduated in 1899, despite the irregularity with which he conducted his studies due to the War of Independence, during which period his father, who was Prefect of Quivicán, was deported to Chafarinas.

He entered as an intern at Hospital No. 1 and rose to Chief of Interns and later to Director. In 1909, he joined as a Surgeon at the "General Freyre de Andrade" Hospital, where he performed the miraculous surgical intervention on General Sánchez Figueras (wounded in a duel with Mr. Moleón), whose near resurrection elevated him to the heights of popular fame.

But if great and singular have been the triumphs that in the delicate surgical science have elevated Doctor Souza's fame, to the point of making him, despite his modesty, a true National and International medical eminence; equally distinguished is his strong personality as a serious historian, truthful and perfect knower of the vast subjects he has developed.

Thus, his personal acquaintance with Generalísimo Máximo Gómez during the struggles of our War of Independence allowed him years later to enrich Cuban historiography with works of such high value as "Máximo Gómez and the Invasions of 75 and 95"¹, "Máximo Gómez, The Generalísimo", considered the masterwork of the bibliography of the renowned Caribbean liberator, and "Presentation of the Relics of Máximo Gómez".

Subsequently, the "Biography of a Mambí Regiment" and his constant articles in the daily press and in the main national and foreign journals, provide ample evidence of his value as a historian of interesting subjects, of absolute veracity and seriousness, of deep patriotism. Referring to his personality as a historian, the President of the Academy of History said upon receiving him as a full member of that corporation, at the memorable reception session:
"The habit of inquiry into the physical weaknesses of man prepared him to venture skillfully into this product of human endeavor that is History. He has given excellent demonstrations of this before now and in this very act. He is a historiographer because he brings as much science as art to the realization of his undertaking".

For his most valuable works he has been honored by innumerable institutions, being a member of the Society of Surgery; the Society of Clinical Studies; the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana; the Academy of History of Cuba; he was an Honorary Member of the National Association of Veterans of Cuban Independence; he was declared an Eminent Son of the Municipality of Pedro Betancourt, etc.

In 1933, after the fall of the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado, he presided for a brief time over the National Commission of Boxing and Wrestling, an organism created by the Secretariat of Interior to regulate everything concerning the practice of these sports in Cuba[1].

He died in Havana on June 19, 1954 at the age of 82.