Benito Legarda

For the Filipino historian, see Benito J. Legarda.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Legarda and the second or maternal family name is Tuason.

Benito Cosmé Legarda y Tuason (September 27, 1853 – August 27, 1915) was a Filipino legislator who was a member of the Philippine Commission of the American colonial Insular Government, the government's legislature, and later a Resident Commissioner from the Philippine Islands to the United States Congress.

Benito Legarda
Legarda in c. 1908
1st Resident Commissioner of the Philippines to the United States Congress
In office November 22, 1907 – March 3, 1912 Serving with Pablo Ocampo (1907–1909) Manuel L. Quezon (1909–1912)
Appointed by	William Howard Taft
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Manuel Earnshaw
Member of the Philippine Commission
In office September 1, 1901 – December 21, 1907
Vice President of the Malolos Congress
In office September 15, 1898 – November 13, 1899
President	Pedro Paterno
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished (Antonio de las Alas as Speaker Pro Tempore of the Philippine Assembly)
Member of the Malolos Congress
In office September 15, 1898 – November 13, 1899
Constituency	Jolo
Personal details
Born	Benito Cosmé Legarda y Tuason (1853-09-27)September 27, 1853 Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	August 27, 1915(1915-08-27) (aged 61) Évian-les-Bains, France
Resting place	Manila North Cemetery
Citizenship	Spain, Philippine
Nationality	Spain, United States
Political party	Progresista (1907–1915) Federalista (1900–1907) Independent (1898–1900)
Other political affiliations	Republican
Spouse	Teresa de la Paz y de los Santos
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas

Early life and education

He was born in Manila, Philippines on September 27, 1853 to a Spanish-Filipino and Chinese mestizo family. He attended the Jesuits' College and the University of Santo Tomas of Manila.

Political life

He started his political life as a member of President Emilio Aguinaldo's cabinet at Malolos and vice president of the Malolos Congress. He later became a member of the Philippine Commission in 1901 and was elected as a Resident Commissioner to the Sixtieth and to the two succeeding Congresses (November 22, 1907 - March 3, 1912). He was not a candidate for renomination to the Sixty-third Congress in 1912, in large part due to opposition to his candidacy from the Philippine Assembly. He founded the Federalista Party in the early part of the 20th century. He was an upper-class Filipino who cooperated with the United States.

Death

Benito Legarda died on August 27, 1915, in Evian-les-Bains, France. He is buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

Legacy

The Legarda Elementary School and Legarda Street in Manila were named in Legarda's honor.

See also

• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
• List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress

References

• United States Congress. "Benito Legarda (id: L000218)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.