Marta Abreu

Marta Abreu de Estévez (13 November 1845 – 2 January 1909) was one of the most influential figures of her time in central Cuba, especially in her birth city and province of Santa Clara.

[1] For her constant aid to the poor, her donations to the city and the independence war, she won the title of "the great benefactor".

Her wealth enabled Marta Abreu to travel to Europe and the United States from a very young age, which brought her into contact with key figures of her time and allowed her to appreciate the differences between most developed countries and her own, and how difficult Cubans had it, specially in small hinterland cities and towns.

She married Luis Estévez y Romero [es], a lawyer[1] and University professor[2] from Matanzas who was also an advocate of independence cause and helper of the poor; in time this allowed Marta to fulfill her philanthropic dreams.

They later moved to Europe because of her husband's poor health; she died at her home in Paris.