José Manuel Cedeño Infante

Bayamó patriot, aide-de-camp of the Liberator Simón Bolívar. He fought side by side with Simón Bolívar, fighting several battles until he became a General and died heroically, receiving the honors of a solemn triumph.

He was born at number 175 Máximo Gómez Street, Bayamo, Cuba. Son of Pedro Antonio de Cedeño and grandson of Gabriel José de Cedeño and Francisca Antonia Infante, according to his birth certificate, he abandoned Bayamo due to his yearning for travel and adventure.

Manuel Cedeño left at the end of the 18th century or beginning of the 19th century toward Haiti and there helped establish the Republic (January 1804), enlisted in Dessalines' troops. He later collaborated with Petión and some time later traveled to the island of Trinidad, where he joined Mariño, Sucre and other patriots who would make up Bolívar's glorious army.

Already in the decade from 1810 to 1820, Cedeño moved "side by side" with Bolívar on horseback. He is a protagonist in several military feats that led him to the rank of general. He fought, among jungles and plains, one hundred combats from Araguá to Boyacá and became governor and commander of Guayana.

The Liberator, in the midst of that complex struggle for Gran Colombia, even assigned him the mission of capturing the feared Caudillo Piar.

In his war report of the Battle of Carabobo, signed on June 25, 1821, Bolívar states:
"this combatant died in the heroic manner that befitted the noble career of the bravest of the brave of Colombia. The Republic has lost in General Cedeño a great support in peace or in war; none braver than him, none more obedient to the Government. I recommend the ashes of this General to the Sovereign Congress so that he may be given the honors of a solemn triumph".

He dies in combat at the Battle of Carabobo.

Cuban, Venezuelan and of America
Many believe that this procer of American independence, whose body has rested in the National Pantheon of Venezuela since December 16, 1942, was born in those lands.

The data given in various sources is confusing and contradictory, it is said he was born in Cardonal, Mata de Herrera, Jurisdiction of Chaguaramas, Guárico, others say he was born in Apure. It is known that he said he was Venezuelan, so that his troops would feel more confident with him and there would be no doubt in combat when following a foreigner at the head of the troops. He thought that way in those times, Cubans never thought that way, when they followed in combat Máximo Gómez, of Dominican nationality.

A curious fact is provided by edition number 3 of July 1957 of the local newspaper Hatuey, whose pages state that the Government of Venezuela at that time, fulfilling a patriotic and libertarian sentiment and deep recognition of the great figures of the Americas who fought in its land, would donate to Bayamo a bust of General Manuel Cedeño, son of this illustrious city.

The bust never arrived, but on the occasion of the anniversary of his death, on June 24, 2001, one was inaugurated near his birthplace, but it had to be removed due to deterioration; a new project is hoped for that will raise another made of bronze, lasting and strong as he was. Work has been done to spread his work, his exploits and loyalty to Bolívar. In Venezuela a municipality bears his name, and even a flag.