Editing José Celso Barbosa (section)

==Political career==
During the Spanish colonial period, Barbosa was a member of the Partido Autonomista Puro (Pure Autonomous Party), also known as "Partido Histórico" and "Partido Ortodoxo", led by [[Román Baldorioty de Castro]], but left because of ideological differences.<ref>[https://www.claridadpuertorico.com/de-los-origenes-de-los-partidos-politicos-en-puerto-rico-al-partido-republicano-puertorriqueno-y-don-jose-celso-barbosa-ii/ ''De los orígenes de los partidos políticos en Puerto Rico al Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño y don José Celso Barbosa II.''] Claridad. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Accessed May 31, 2019.</ref>

In 1898, when the United States bombarded and blockaded San Juan during the [[Spanish–American War]], Barbosa and other doctors who lived in Bayamón traveled to the town of [[Cataño, Puerto Rico|Cataño]] and took a ferry to the capital. Barbosa, as a member of the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]], went to the aid of the wounded Puerto Rican and Spanish soldiers. He and his party on the ferry had to travel across [[San Juan Bay]] at risk, as they were under cannon fire. Barbosa and those with him were recommended by the Spanish government for the ''Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Naval'' (The Cross of the Order of Naval Merit) for their bravery.<ref name=iriarte>{{cite web|last1=Iriarte|first1=Luis M.|last2=Quiñones|first2=Denise|title=El Museo del 98|url=http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/museo8.htm#anchor121033|website=1898 La Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico|access-date=October 2, 2015}}</ref>

As a result of the war, the United States made Puerto Rico one of its territories. On July 4, 1899, Barbosa formed the pro-statehood [[Republican Party of Puerto Rico (1899)|Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico]]. He became known as the father of the statehood for Puerto Rico movement.<ref name="doak"/>
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