Elias Ahuja y Andria

Elias Ahuja y Andria (Cadiz, 8 of January 1863 - New York, 20 of July 1951), philanthropy, politician. Study Commerce in the Technical Institute of Boston.

In 1903 it is transferred to the Republic of Chile like Vice-president and Director of the “Dupont Nitrate Company”. In 1922 it returns to Spain and it founds the “Charity Elías Ahúja”, that depends on the association “Good Samaritan de Wilmington” in EE.UU. Help the culture, the sport, military, religious and educative institutions.

It constructs hospitals, clinics, dining rooms, schools, quarters, repairs city councils, provides with food, cleanings; it specially favors the prisoners, widow & orphan, to the convents, sanatoriums. It sustained the Scouts of Spain. Its work favored to cities like Seville, Cadiz, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Paterna, Espera and Villaluenga del Rosario among others.

One appeared in the last elections of the Monarchy like candidate to Deputy to Cortes like independent monarchist. He was academic of Real the Hispanic American and the one of Beautiful Arts of Cadiz. Honorary president of the Red Cross. In addition he had great decorations Military, the Great Plate and the Gold medal of the Red Cross, the Cross of the Civilian order awarded for philanthropy, the Gold medal of the Explorers, etc.

But also he had great detractors that watched with greed their goods, specially Falange Española. Reason why he had to exiliar itself of Spain in 1937.

El Puerto de Santa Maria made adoptive son in 1928 and has dedicated a street and its house.