Preceded by Simon Moret Gallart Name Rafael Esbri Profession politician | Nationality Puerto Rican Succeeded by Luis Yordan Davila | |
 | ||
Died 1965
Ponce, Puerto Rico | ||
Rafael Rivera Esbrí (1870–1965) was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1915 to 1917.
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El Polvorin
Rivera Esbri is best remembered for an incident that has little to do with his work as mayor. He is remembered as the only civilian who in the company of seven of Ponce's firefighters confronted and brought under control the fire of 25 January 1899 that took place at the American munitions depot in the city of Ponce, where the Ponce High School is currently located. Rivera Esbri and the others did this in defiance of an order from the American invaders not to attempt to fight the fire. Their bravery is said to have saved the city from total destruction.
Obelisk
In 1906, the Legislature of Puerto Rico issued a proclamation to officially declare Rafael Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters heroes. In time, the city of Ponce also built an obelisk to their memory which is located at Plaza Las Delicias (See Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorin), and is dedicated to Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters who risked their lives in the 25 January 1899, fire. Rivera Esbri's name, along with those of the firefighters are engraved on the obelisk.
Mayoral work
As mayor, Rivera Esbri founded, in 1916, the cemetery at Barrio Coto Laurel in Ponce.
Death and burial
Upon his death, Rafael Rivera Esbri was buried at the mausoleum reserved for Ponce firefighters in the Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín at Cementerio Civil de Ponce. He is the only civilian non-firefighter in the mausoleum.
