Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán (April 8, 1827 – September 16, 1898) was a Puerto Rican independence advocate and medical doctor. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution and is considered to be the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement. Since the "Grito" galvanized a burgeoning nationalist movement among Puerto Ricans, Betances is also considered ""El Padre de la Patria"" (Father of the Rican Nation). Because of his charitable deeds for people in need, he also became known as ""El Padre de los Pobres"" ("The Father of the Poor").