History Highlights 1493 Christopher Columbus discovers Puerto Rico. First elected Deputy to the Spanish Court, Ram n Power y Giralt, is sent to Spain. The first political parties come into being .
Slavery is abolished.
Spain grants Letter of Autonomy to Puerto Rico. The University of Puerto Rico is founded. 1917 Jones Act grants U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and provides for the creation of a local Senate. Women's right to vote recognized. T. Pi ero becomes the first appointed Puerto Rican governor.