Juan Guiteras Gener y Carlos de la Torre Huerta. Two scientifics born on Río Street, city of Matanzas

Abstract

The life of scientific personalities is part of the history of the sciences. The existence of a national science has been postulated in Cuba since the colonial period. The main direction of the personal existence is influenced by the experience of the first years, given by the environment in which the personality develops.  The conditions in different historical moments allow the development of outstanding personalities, a phenomena that could be in opposition to historical coincidences.  In the decade of 1850, two transcendental figures were born on Rio Street, in Matanzas: the doctors Carlos de la Torre y Huerta y Juan Guiteras Gener, both distinguished, in malacology and zoology the first, and in medical pathology, entomology and public health the second.  Several commons elements of both of them are exposed, like nearness of birth date and place, studies in the college “La Empresa”, being sons of professors of the same college, being graduated as doctors, and having knowledge on natural and pedagogical sciences, among others factors that influenced their attitudes and achievements.