1904

Born on February 17 in Ponce. His parents were Don Antonio Ferré Bacallao and Mary Aguayo Casals. His wife, Lorencita Ramírez de Arellano and their children, Rosario Ferré and Antonio Luis Ferré.

1904

1920-1925

He graduated from Bachelor of Science and has a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

From a young age he was a talented pianist. He did advanced piano studies for five years, at New England Conservatory of Music, Mass., Boston.

1920-1925

1925

He began his career as an engineer at the Porto Rico Iron Works (PRIW), founded by his father, in 1918. The PRIW became the main foundry and steel structures and machinery industry in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

1925

1935

His passion for the arts led him to found Pro Arte de Ponce.

1935

1937

He founded and chaired the first Public Library of Ponce (1937-1966).

1937

1940

Candidate for the City Hall of Ponce. It belongs and leads countless civic and charities. Among them, Club de Leones de Ponce, Club de Rotarios and YMCA.

1940

1945

Acquires the newspaper El Día, founded in 1911, in Ponce. He was its president and editor.

1945

1947

Initiatives with the Bishop of Ponce, Bishop James E. McManus, C.Ss.R., for the foundation and construction of the Catholic University of P.R. Thanks to specific contributions from Don Luis, his father and brothers, the University is founded.

1947

1956

Together with his wife, Lorencita Ramírez de Arellano, he created the Luis A. Ferré Foundation to promote the development of arts and education in Puerto Rico.

1956

1959

One of his dreams is realized, the opening of the Ponce Museum of Art.
His first acquisitions for the Museum included a religious painting by José Campeche and a landscape by the famous Puerto Rican impressionist Francisco Oller.

1959

1969-1972

In full swing of his political career, he won the governorship of Puerto Rico during a four-year period. He created the New Progressive Party and five years later he changed into the eighth president of the Senate of Puerto Rico and was previously a member of the House of Representatives.

1969-1972

1991

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from the President of the United States. The highest award granted by the US government to civic leaders, for its worthy contribution to culture.

1991

1993-2002

Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation of Musical Arts of Puerto Rico, for the Symphony Orchestra, the Casals Festival, the Conservatory of Music and the music-social programs of the Orchestra.

1993-2002

2003

He died on October 21. It was 99 years.

2003