PALMA, TOMAS ESTRADA, a Cuban statesman and soldier, called the "Frank lin of Cuba"; born in Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, July 9, 1835. He was educated at Havana and studied law at the Uni versity of Seville, Spain. In 1867 he al lied himself with the patriots working for Cuban independence, became a leader and the bosom friend of Cespides and Aguilera, the first president and first vice-president. When Cespides raised the standard of revolt, Oct. 10, 1868, Palma freed his slaves and aided the movement to the utmost. He took the field and his devoted mother shared the dangers of camp life with him. During his absence one day his detachment was surprised by the Spanish and his mother captured. She was compelled to walk behind the troops till she fell from ex haustion, and was abandoned in the woods, where her son found her, two weeks later, starving. She died a few days later.
After the capture of Bayamo, Palma was elected to the Cuban assembly and became secretary of the republic under the presidency of Spoturno. On the resignation of Spoturno, the Cuban As sembly elected Palma president, March 29, 1876. He performed the duties of
the office with ability, but was, through the treachery of a Cuban, captured by a force of Spanish soldiers while on a journey. He was sent to Spain and im prisoned for a year in the castle of Fieuras. On the subsequent surrender of the revolutionists he was set at liberty and went first to Paris, and from there to New York. Later he went to the republic of Honduras, where he began work as a schoolmaster and became post master-general. He there married the daughter of President Guardiola and re turned to the United States, where he settled in Orange co., New York. In July, 1895, he was elected delegate or president of the Associated Cuban clubs in the United States, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Jose Marti. In September of the same year he was made minister or delegate plenipotentiary abroad of the republic of Cuba. On Dec. 31, 1901, he was elected first president of the new Cuban republic, was re-elected in 1906, but resigned. He died Nov. 4, 1908.