Nemesio R. Canales (December 18, 1878 - September 14, 1923) born in the town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico, was a poet, essayist, journalist, novelist, playwright and a politician who defended women's civil rights.

Canales went to school in Jayuya and Utuado. His younger sister was Blanca Canales who was to become a nationalist leader. Later he continued his higher educational studies in the "Liceo of Mayaguez" where he earned a bachelor's degree in literature. In 1896, Canales went to Spain, where he enrolled in the University of Zaragoza to study medicine. In 1898, when the United States declared war on Spain, Canales abandoned his studies and went to Baltimore, Maryland. There he enrolled in Baltimore's College of Law in 1903.

Canales was married to Guarina Diaz, the grandaughter of Roman Baldorioty de Castro, and upon his return to Puerto Rico he settled in Ponce. In Ponce, Canales joined the Lawyers bufette of Luis Llorens Torres.

Canales, like so many lawyers of the time, wrote poetry of patriotic themes, collaborated as a journalist and took an active interest in politics. He joined the Unionist Party and served in the Puerto Rican Camara of Representatives. The Unionist Party promoted the economic progress of the working class. In 1909, he presented before the Camara a proposal for a law, which was approved, that would give women their full civil rights and the right to vote. He also served as a cathedra in the School of Law of the University of Puerto Rico.

Canales co-founded, with Luis Llorens Torres, the "Revista de las Antillanas". He also wrote short novels and a comedy called "El Heroe Galopante" (The Traveling Hero), which debuted on stage in 1923 after his death. In 1914, he bought the newspaper "El Día" of Ponce (In the future it was to become "El Nuevo Día"). In his newspaper he had a column in which he wrote his "Paliques". In the "Paliques", he showed his understanding of the human nature with humor and insight. In his works, he makes an emphasis of the pride that he feels for things Puerto Rican. A collection of his essays, "Paliques" were published in 1913.

Among his other works are the novels "Hacia Un Lejano Sol", "Mi Volutad Ha Muerto" and "La Leyenda Benaventina". Canales gave many lectures, among the countries he visited were Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Panama and Venezuela.

On September 14, 1923, Nemesio Canales was in New York City with the intention of going to Washington, D.C. as a legal assistant to a legislative Puerto Rican commission, when he died.

Puerto Rico has named an important avenue in his honor. There is a public housing project in San Juan named after him. In his native town, Jayuya, there is a statue in his honor, sculpted by the well known Puerto Rican sculptor Tomas Batista, the Plaza de Recreo is named after him and his house was converted into a museum. Puerto Rico also awards the Nemesio Canales Award in Literature every year to outstanding young writers.

Also see

• List of famous Puerto Ricans