Salvador Brau - Early Years

Early Years

Brau was born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, also known as the town of Cofresí, into a well-to-do family who taught him the importance of a good education. His father was Bartolomé Brau, a Catalan teacher of German descent and his mother was Luisa Asencio, a native of Venezuela. Brau received his primary and secondary education in private schools. After graduating from high school, he continued his education in an institute of higher learning, and went to Spain in 1861 and attended the University of Barcelona where he earned a degree in Letters. During his stay in Spain, he came into contact with the autonomist movement of Puerto Rico and became involved. Eventually, Brau earned his Doctorate in Letters. Brau was not a historian in the sense that he earned a degree in that field. However, his interest in finding out about the early history of the island led him to become a self-taught historian.