[5] In 1820, one of her brothers Pedro José and his wife died and she took it upon herself to raise her orphaned niece Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier, who would in the future become a renowned poet herself.

[4] La Ninfa is a commemorative ode in neoclassical style inspired by the creation of the first Royal Territorial Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

In the poem, Maria endows the lamb in the center of the Puerto Rican heraldic shield with symbolism of the compliant submissiveness of her colony to the Spanish Crown.

Del invicto monarca que te envía yo soy la predilecta, que sola presidia en el ameno campo do reflecta de eterna primavera claro día.

Your lovely glow cascades to flood this land of gold and its milieu that solemnly, in oath of blood, proclaims you guardian, its treasure most true!

Of that bold monarch whose will you convey, I am most dear devotee who's rule and only has held sway over lovely fields and lea of endless spring's perennially clear day.

In 1858, to commemorate the birth of Alfonso, HRH Prince of Asturias, María published Diálogo Alegórico (Allegorical Dialogue), a play in verse, and received honors from the Imprenta Guasp, a San Juan printing press company.

La Cruz was based on the attack of the city of San Juan by the Dutch with the intention of invading Puerto Rico in 1625 and the defense by the islanders.

The production starred Joealis Filippetti, Ricardo Magriñá, Teresita Marrero, Rolando Reyes y Jesús Aguad and was directed by Benigna Ojeda.

[1] His descendants include Jaime Benítez Rexach, who was the first president of the University of Puerto Rico and was later elected as the island's Resident Commissioner.