Manuel Despaigne Rivery

He was educated in France. In 1868 he went to war, but due to his extreme youth, being only 15 years old, he was returned to his father. Later he traveled through the United States and Europe.

In 1895 he cooperated in the brigade of Antonio Maceo. In 1896 he joined Juan de León and later alongside his friend Demetrio Castillo.

Carlos Manuel de Céspedes offered him the position of Government Lieutenant of Sagua de Tánamo, later he held the position in Bayamo and also in Santiago de Cuba.

He was a representative to the Assembly of la Yaya, head of the Office of Foreign Relations and worked in the Assembly of Santa Cruz.

In the Republic he served as a forthright politician and concerned with the problems of veterans.

In the republican era he held the highest offices and notably Secretary of the Treasury under presidents Zayas, Grau San Martín (1933) and Mendieta (1934-36). Colonel Despaigne has been called in difficult situations and under governments of different character to the Treasury department. He lived austerely, despite having intervened in substantial loans and managed millions.