Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País de la Habana

It was initially organized to promote agriculture, commerce, education, and industry,[1] modelled on the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País in Spain.

Founding members included Diego de la Barrera, Francisco Joseph Basabe, José Agustín Caballero [es], Luis de Las Casas, Juan Manuel O'Farrill, Tomás Romay y Luis Peñalver, and Antonio Robledo.

[2][3] In its early decades the group produced publications, maintained a library in the Convento de Santo Domingo (1800-1844),[4] and arranged educational programs.

[5] Around the 1790s the group built the Hospicio o Casa de Beneficencia in Havana.

[3] The society has renamed itself several times, as follows:[citation needed] This article incorporates information from the Spanish Wikipedia.