Juan Santamaría was a Costa Rican soldier, officially recognized as the national hero of his country.
Background
Santamaría was born in the city of Alajuela. He was an extramarital son of Manuela Santamaría Rodríguez, also known as Manuela Gallego or Manuela Carvajal (because her father was Mateo Santamaría Carvajal, who at that time was using indiscriminately the surnames Carvahal or Santamaría). In some sources there is information about two brothers called Joaquina and Rufino, but in the testament of his mother was said with clarity that Juan was her only son.
Career
At the age of ten, he joined the army as a drummer boy. In his infancy and youth, he was a day laborer and bricklayer's assistant. He was a sacristan of the Church of Alajuela and also house servant. The troops nicknamed him "el erizo" ("the Porcupine") because of his spiked hair since he belong to mulatto ethnic group. In occasion of the National Campaign of 1856-1857, he joined the troops of his native province, commanded by Colonel Manuel G. from Bosque, going on the journey on March 4, 1856.