Historical figures in Havana
The atlas holds 36 people and 77 moments here, from 1853 to 2018. The most recorded lives are Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez and José Raúl Capablanca. Among them Political Leaders, Writers and Scientists, across the Space Age and the Cold War.
Notable people
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
from 2004 to 2006
2 moments here
Malaysian civil servant and politician who served as Malaysia’s fifth prime minister from 2003 to 2009.…
Benito Juárez
in 1858
1 moment here
Mexican lawyer, Liberal politician, and president of Mexico from 1858 until his death. A Zapotec from Oaxaca, Juárez led the Liberal government…
Calvin Coolidge
in 1928
1 moment here
John Calvin Coolidge Jr. (1872–1933) was an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as governor of Massachusetts, vice president of the…
Carlos Fuentes
in 1959
1 moment here
Carlos Fuentes Macías was a Mexican novelist, essayist, public intellectual, and diplomat. Born in Panama City to a Mexican diplomat, he spent…
Celia Cruz
from 1925 to 1947
2 moments here
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American singer celebrated internationally as the “Queen of Salsa.” Born in Havana, she rose to fame with Sonora Matancera,…
Che Guevara
in 1959
4 moments here
Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928–1967) was an Argentine physician, Marxist revolutionary, Cuban government official, diplomat, and guerrilla commander.…
Ernest Hemingway
from 1939 to 1960
4 moments here
American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Hemingway’s documented movements ranged from Illinois and Michigan to Italy in World War I,…
Fidel Castro
from 1942 to 2016
14 moments here
Cuban revolutionary and political leader who led the 26th of July Movement against Fulgencio Batista, became Cuba's prime minister in 1959, and later…
Fulgencio Batista
from 1921 to 1959
5 moments here
Cuban army officer and politician who became a central power in Cuba after the 1933 Sergeants’ Revolt, served as president from 1940 to 1944,…
Gabriel García Márquez
from 1959 to 1960
2 moments here
Colombian novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and Nobel laureate whose life moved between Colombia, Europe, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and…
Hugo Chávez
from 1994 to 2012
6 moments here
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was a Venezuelan army officer and politician who led the failed February 1992 coup attempt, became president of Venezuela in…
Italo Calvino
from 1923 to 1964
2 moments here
Italian novelist, short-story writer, editor, journalist, and member of Oulipo. Born in Cuba, raised chiefly in Sanremo, and active across Italy,…
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
in 1985
1 moment here
Peruvian diplomat and politician who became the fifth Secretary-General of the United Nations (1982–1991).…
Jean-Paul Sartre
in 1960
1 moment here
French philosopher, writer, and political activist associated with existentialism. His documented movements include education and teaching across…
Jerry Rawlings
in 1979
1 moment here
Jerry John Rawlings was a Ghanaian Air Force officer and politician who led Ghana in 1979 and from 1981 to 2001, first as military ruler and later as…
José Martí
from 1853 to 1878
3 moments here
Cuban nationalist, writer, journalist, and organizer of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. Martí lived and worked across Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala,…
José Mujica
from 2013 to 2014
2 moments here
Uruguayan guerrilla fighter, farmer and politician who was president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.…
José Raúl Capablanca
from 1888 to 1921
5 moments here
Cuban chess player and diplomat, world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. This chronology records documented physical presence at places of birth,…
Juan Manuel Fangio
in 1958
1 moment here
Argentine racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio was a five-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion.…
Li Keqiang
in 2016
1 moment here
Chinese politician and economist who rose from rural labour in Anhui through the Communist Youth League, led Henan and Liaoning, served as vice…
Miguel Ángel Asturias
in 1928
1 moment here
Guatemalan poet-diplomat, novelist, playwright, journalist, and 1967 Nobel laureate. Asturias’s documented life moved between Guatemala, Europe,…
Mikhail Gorbachev
in 1989
1 moment here
Soviet and Russian politician who led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its dissolution in 1991.…
Nguyễn Phú Trọng
in 2018
1 moment here
Vietnamese politician and political theorist who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 2011 until his death in 2024, and…
Pablo Neruda
in 1942
1 moment here
Chilean poet, diplomat, senator, Communist political figure, and 1971 Nobel laureate. Born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, he lived and…
Moments
- 1853 Birth at 41 Paula Street José Martí
- 1858 Arrival in Havana Benito Juárez
- 1867 Drawing studies at San Alejandro José Martí
- 1878 Marriage on Calle Tulipán José Martí
- 1888 Birth at Castillo del Príncipe José Raúl Capablanca
- 1892 Stop in Havana en route to Spain Rubén Darío
- 1892 Return to Havana Rubén Darío
- 1901 Corzo match José Raúl Capablanca
- 1906 Serves as provisional governor in Cuba William Howard Taft
- 1910 Departure for Havana Rubén Darío
- 1911 Departure from Havana during exile voyage Porfirio Díaz
- 1913 Havana tournament José Raúl Capablanca
- 1919 Kostić match José Raúl Capablanca
- 1921 Travel to Havana and army enlistment Fulgencio Batista
- 1921 World Championship match begins José Raúl Capablanca
- 1923 Birth in Santiago de las Vegas Italo Calvino
- 1925 Birth in Santos Suárez Celia Cruz
- 1928 Sixth International Conference of American States Calvin Coolidge
- 1928 Journalists' congress visit Miguel Ángel Asturias
- 1933 Sergeants' Revolt at Camp Columbia Fulgencio Batista
- 1939 Finca Vigía tenancy Ernest Hemingway
- 1939 Hotel Ambos Mundos residence Ernest Hemingway
- 1941 Return to Finca Vigía from China trip Ernest Hemingway
- 1942 Belén school transfer Fidel Castro
- 1942 Lecture tour in Cuba Pablo Neruda
- 1945 University law studies Fidel Castro
- 1947 Music studies at Havana's National Conservatory Celia Cruz
- 1949 Move to larger Havana flat Fidel Castro
- 1952 Coup at Camp Columbia Fulgencio Batista
- 1955 Release and return to Havana Fidel Castro
- 1958 Kidnapped from Havana hotel Juan Manuel Fangio
- 1958 Breakfast at the Presidential Palace Fulgencio Batista
- 1959 Move to Havana after the Cuban Revolution Carlos Fuentes
- 1959 Command at La Cabaña Fortress Che Guevara
- 1959 Entry into Havana Che Guevara
- 1959 Recovery and planning at Tarará Che Guevara
- 1959 Freedom Caravan arrival Fidel Castro
- 1959 Residence and office at Havana Hilton Fidel Castro
- 1959 Resignation at Camp Columbia Fulgencio Batista
- 1959 Operation Truth in Havana Gabriel García Márquez
- 1959 Marriage ceremony at La Cabaña Che Guevara
- 1960 Prensa Latina work in Havana Gabriel García Márquez
- 1960 Meeting Fidel Castro in Havana Sukarno
- 1960 La Coubre memorial service Jean-Paul Sartre
- 1960 Last departure from Cuba Ernest Hemingway
- 1961 Words to the Intellectuals Fidel Castro
- 1961 Arrival in Havana Yuri Gagarin
- 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis visit U Thant
- 1964 Wedding in Havana Italo Calvino
- 1966 Tri-Continental Conference Fidel Castro