From the arts to science to politics, many important contributions have been made by people from Spanish-speaking countries. New York State United Teachers has assembled a list of some famous contributors, along with their countries of origin.
Argentina
Bernardo Houssay
1887-1971
Nobel Prize winner for diabetes research.
Bolivia
Jorge Sanjines
1936 -
Award-winning film director.
Chile
Gabriela Mistral
1889-1957
Nobel Prize-winning poet.
Colombia
Catalina Sandino Moreno
1981-
Academy Award nominee for Maria Full of Grace.
Costa Rica
Oscar Arias Sanchez
1941 -
Democratic reformer, Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Cuba
Carlos Finlay
1833-1915
Discovered link between mosquitos, yellow fever.
Dominican Republic
Oscar de La Renta
1932-
Famous fashion designer.
Ecuador
Oswaldo Guayasamín
1919-1999
Artist, supporter of indigenous rights.
El Salvador
Karla Cecilia Rodas Cortez
1970 -
Famous muralist. Fans call her ‘Karlisima.’
Guatemala
Miguel Angel Asturias
1899-1974
Writer, Nobel Prize winner.
Honduras
Salvador Moncada
1944 -
Led the development of drugs for heart disease and epilepsy.
Mexico
Frida Kahlo
1907-1954
World-famous painter and feminist.
Nicaragua
Bianca Jagger
1950 -
Human rights activist.
Panama
Luis Russell
1902-1963
Musician, played with Louis Armstrong.
Paraguay
Agustín Barrios-Mangoré
1885-1944
Legendary classical guitarist.
Peru
Pedro Paulet
1874-1945
First to build a liquid-fueled rocket engine.
Puerto Rico
Antonia C. Novello
1944-
First female Surgeon General of the United States.
Spain
Araceli Segarra
1970-
First Spanish woman to climb Mount Everest.
United States
Ellen Ochoa
1958 -
First Hispanic female astronaut.
Uruguay
Juana de Ibarbourou
1895-1979
Internationally celebrated female poet.
Venezuela
Irene Sáez Conde
1961-
Pioneering female politician in Venezuela.