Juan Zorrilla de San Martin Sculpture in Montevideo by his son José Luis Zorrilla de San MartínThe patriarch Juan Zorrilla de San Martin and his familyZorrilla Museum in Montevideo
Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (28 December 1855 – 3 November 1931) was an Uruguayan epic poet and political figure. He is referred to as the "National Poet of Uruguay".[1]
Well-known poems
Two of Zorrilla's best-known poems are Tabaré (the national poem for Uruguayans) and La leyenda patria (The Fatherland Legend). He also wrote the Hymn to the Tree (Himno al Arbol), a well-known Spanish poem later made a song in several Latin-American countries.
As a political figure Juan Zorrilla de San Martín served as a Deputy for Montevideo from 1888–91, and served as Ambassador several periods.
He was twice widowed, and left 13 children when he died, one of whom was José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín. His grandson, Alejandro Zorrilla de San Martín, was to serve as a prominent Deputy, Minister and Senator. One of his granddaughters was actress China Zorrilla. Another granddaughter, Guma Zorrilla, was a theater costume designer.
