Ramón Castro (Cuban revolutionary)
Encyclopedia
Ramón Eusebio Castro Ruz (born October 14, 1924) is the older brother of Fidel
and Raúl Castro
and a key figure of the Cuban Revolution
.
As the eldest male Castro sibling, Ramón remained at home at the onset of the revolution, looking after his parents and the sizable farm owned by the family. This experience cultivated in Ramón an interest in agriculture
which would remain a major element in his life.
Although not active in a military
capacity like his brothers, Ramón Castro aided in the ongoing revolution as the quartermaster
for the troops of Fidel and Raúl, sending them supplies, such as weapons and victuals. Not only was he responsible for furnishing supplies, he also established and maintained pipelines from the cities to the troops' position. Using his skills in both farming and engineering, Ramón also manufactured an alcohol-based fuel
for Cuba during a gasoline shortage.
After the revolution, Ramón Castro abandoned the family farm as it became legal property of the state. He continued to dedicate himself to the study of agriculture however, and is chiefly responsible for many of Cuba's agricultural initiatives since the revolution.
He is married, has two children, Ramón and Oneida Castro Rodríguez, and lives in Havana
.
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
and a key figure of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
.
As the eldest male Castro sibling, Ramón remained at home at the onset of the revolution, looking after his parents and the sizable farm owned by the family. This experience cultivated in Ramón an interest in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
which would remain a major element in his life.
Although not active in a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
capacity like his brothers, Ramón Castro aided in the ongoing revolution as the quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
for the troops of Fidel and Raúl, sending them supplies, such as weapons and victuals. Not only was he responsible for furnishing supplies, he also established and maintained pipelines from the cities to the troops' position. Using his skills in both farming and engineering, Ramón also manufactured an alcohol-based fuel
Alcohol fuel
Although fossil fuels have become the dominant energy resource for the modern world, alcohol has been used as a fuel throughout history. The first four aliphatic alcohols are of interest as fuels because they can be synthesized chemically or biologically, and they have characteristics which allow...
for Cuba during a gasoline shortage.
After the revolution, Ramón Castro abandoned the family farm as it became legal property of the state. He continued to dedicate himself to the study of agriculture however, and is chiefly responsible for many of Cuba's agricultural initiatives since the revolution.
He is married, has two children, Ramón and Oneida Castro Rodríguez, and lives in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
.