Félix Varela y Morales. Priest, teacher, philosopher, writer and journalist, ''the first one who teached us how to think'', as the outstanding Cuban philosopher José de la Luz y Caballero stated.

He was born in Havana, November 20, 1788. Being 6 years old, he moved with his family to Florida. In 1801, he came back to the island and entered San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminar, graduating Theology in 1806.


Received the subdiaconate in 1809 and the diaconate in 1810. Around the same year, he obtained his Bachelor Degree in Theology.
In 1811, became priest, obtaining official chair of Latinity and Rhetoric in addition to the Philosophy cathedra at San Carlos Seminar.

In 1812, he published "Propositiones Variae ad Tyronum Exercitationum" ("Various propositions for Bisoños Exercising"), as continuity of two first tomes, "Institutiones Philosophiae Eclecticae ad_Usum Studiosae Iuventutis Editae" ("Institutions of Eclectic Philosophy for the use of Studious Youth"); "Resumen de las Enseñanzas Metafísicas y Morales Enseñadas en el Seminario de San Carlos" (''Reviews of Metaphysics and Moral learned at San Carlos Seminar'') and "Doctrinas Físicas que Expondrán por Conclusión de Trienio Veinte Alumnos de la Clase de Filosofía''. At the following year, 1815, his work "Praelectio de Philosophiae Impedimentis" saw the light.

Varela keeps on publishing his phylosophic work and in 1816, his compilation of philosophy course entitled "Doctrinas de Lógica, Metafísica y Moral" appeared. He requested in this same year, the entrance to Sociedad Económica Amigos del País, in which he was admitted, due to his great prestigy and on July 31, he delivered his admission speech: "Influencia de la Ideología en la Sociedad y Medios para Rectificar ese Ramo". Around 1818, in "Apuntes Filosóficos sobre la Dirección del Espíritu Humano", he remembers to his pupils the doctrine he teached about this topic. Varela collaborated also with some publications of the epoch.

Four tomes from his trascendental work "Lecciones de Filosofía" (''Philosophy Lectures'') appeared and in José María Heredia's opinion, ''it is the best of its sort written in our language'' being also a ''work to honor any illustrated people'', in José Antonio Saco's opinion.

In 1819, he published "Miscelánea Filosófica" (''Philosophic Miscelaneous''), work including essential conceptions of his thought, referring to idelogy, human knowledge and his particular critic to the scholastic system, showing through it, his fresh and new patriotic conceptions.

He spoke Latin. Quite advanced to his epoch, he renewed the education using Spanish in his classes and books, forgetting the ruling scholasticism under the eclectic philosophy and introducing the experimentation at sciences study. Varela achieved deep scientific and technical knowledge, not only regarding to Physics, showed at his classes at San Carlos Seminar, but also of Chemistry, allowing him to translate a specialized work of chemistry applied to agriculture.

Delegate to Spain Courts since 1822, he presented together with other personalities, a proposal asking for an economical and political government for foreign provinces. He also presented a project asking for recognition of the Hispanoamerican independence.

A memory showing the necessary extintion of slavery in Cuban Island, adquired great significance, although it was never presented in the courts.

He voted for the regency in 1823, so, when absolutism was re-implanted by King Fernando VII, he had to scape to Gibraltar and went later on to United States, where he started journalism. First in Philadelphia, afterwards in New York, here he published the independentist journal El Habanero (1824), from which 7 issues were launched and entered the island secretly.

Together with José Antonio Saco, he wrote El Mensajero Semanal. In New York, Varela published the journal The Protestand Abriger and Annotator (1830), in which he defended the catholic faith against the protestant attacks. Collaborated with El Revisor Político y Literario(1820-1823), Revista Bimestre Cubana and Recreo semanal del bello sexo. He cooperated in Revista de La Habana, Diario del Gobierno and El Universal from Madrid and Repertorio Médico de La Habana, among others, using the nickname "Un paisano suyo".

Varela opened schools for children and unfolded an ample labor in favor of teaching activities. In 1837, he was named General Vicar of New York. His interest for scientific topics and patriotic themes are shown in a work published in 1838 at "Repertorio Médico de la Habana" Magazine, where a device created by him used as air conditioning for hospitals of Havana, is described.

In 1841, the Teology staff from Santa María de Baltimore Seminar conferred him the grade of Doctor of the Faculty.

Great part of his life passed out of his native land and this fact was the major motivation for his entire inspiration and creation. He died at San Agustín, Florida, United States, on February 25, 1853, where he was buried.

On August 22, 1912, his dead body was moved to Havana and deposited at Aula Magna from Havana University in the island he loved very much.