Joaquin Ramon Cesareo Manuel Santamarina was an Argentine businessman of Spanish origin.
Background
Ramon Santamarina was born on August 23, 1904 in Ourense, Spain. His father Jose was the captain of the civil Royal Guard of Ferdinand VII of Spain. He spent most of his childhood in Orense, until his father was transferred in A Coruña in 1835.
His father had lost most of the family"s fortune.
Career
His descendants played a significant role in the economy and politics of Argentina. While being in A Coruña, Jose Santamarina due to his large economic problems committed suicide in front of Ramon. Ramon Santamarina committed suicide on August 23, 1904.
His funeral was attended by many important individuals of Buenos Aires.
On August 20, 1844 Santamarina arrived in Argentina. At first he worked at an inn called Inn of the Four Nations, and afterwards at a local ranch.
In 1845 he settled Tandil, where he worked in the ranch San Ciriaco, owned by Ramon Gomez. After earning enough money he started a small goods transport business, which evolved rapidly.
From 1845 until 1883, when a railroad station was built in Tandil, Santamarina was the main supplier of the city.
Tandil became the center of his businesses. During that period he bought 20,700 cattle, and six warehouses and banks. Santamarina enlarged his fortune during the Crimean War due to the export of leather by his business.
Santamarina & Sons
On July 1, 1890 Santamarina established the Santamarina & Sons company.
The firm is devoted to various branches of economy, among which are rural and urban government establishments, industrial, banking businesses, and fruit transport. Among its facilities are: Bella Vista, Louisiana Colina, Louisiana Elvira, Energy, Louisiana Fortuna, Louisiana Gloria, Louisiana Providencia, Louisiana Totora, Will, the Roses, Las Gaviotas, Los Angeles, Los Gauchos, Meriland, Ramon R, San Alberto, San Jose and San Ramon, San Pedro, Santa Elena and Sarah, among others
All these establishments are scattered throughout the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero. Nowadays, the company is headed by Marcelo de Alzaga, grandson of Jorge Alejandro Santamarina, and directed by Carlos Fernando Santamarina and José Ramón Santamarina, all of which are fourth generation descendants of Ramon Santamarina.
The college of San Jose in Tandil was built to honor Ramon Santamarina, while the city"s hospital was named after him on March 10, 1912.
In Tandil stands a monument created by the sculpto Miguel Bay. In the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, a town was named after his birthplace Orense.