Manuel, orphaned at the age of 6 months, was raised by his maternal grandparents until age 4, when his mother remarried. His stepfather, a gambling man, lost his fortune, which caused the family to suffer many privations. Manuel taught himself
horsemanship, worked at odd jobs and developed some talent for painting. He joined the Cuban revolutionary forces in April 1895 and shortly was assigned to General Maso's General Staff (Escolta), where he rose to the rank of Sargento
(Sargeant). In June 1895 he was assigned to the General Staff of General Antonio Maceo, where he was promoted to the rank of Subteniente (Sub-Lieutenant) and in July 1895 named Ayudante de Campo (Field Adjudant) to Maceo. He spent most of the war with Maceo until Maceo's death on 7 Dec 1896. He rose thought the ranks of Teniente (Lieutenant), Capitan (Captain), Comandante (Commander), and Teniente Coronel (Lieutenant Colonel). He participated in the skirmish at Dos Rios where Jose Marti was killed. He was with the Cuban army until hostilities ceased 28 July 1898, just before his 30th birthday. During the 3 years + 4 months of war he participated in 61 personal battles, was wounded 8 times and had 6 major contussions. He was condecorated 14 times. After the war, the Cuban government promoted him to the rank of General and named him as the first Police Chief of the Republic. Later he was named Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where he married. Later he was named Ambassador to the Central American republics, based in Guatemala, where he lived for many years. After the earthquake in that city, he moved with his embassy to Managua. His last post before retirement was Ambasador to China (Shanghai).
Author of "Mis Primeros Treinta Años", "Campañas de Maceo en la Ultima Guerra de Independencia", and "Juan Rius Rivera y la Independencia de Cuba". ¹

• Married: in Republica Dominicana

1. Manuel PIEDRA DE LA CONCHA
2. Ernesto PIEDRA DE LA CONCHA
3. Angelica PIEDRA DE LA CONCHA
4. Alba PIEDRA DE LA CONCHA b: 1904
5. Leonor PIEDRA DE LA CONCHA b: 1906

1. Title: MIS PRIMEROS TREINTA AÑOS - MEMORIAS, Segunda Edicion
   Author: Piedra Martel, General Manuel
   Publication: Editorial Minerva, Habana, Cuba, 1944
2. Title: ship manifest - SS Mexico arriving NY 19 Aug 1922 from Havana.
   Author: Ellis Island Foundation
   Publication: Ellis Island Web Site, www.ellisisland.org
   Repository:
   Name: Ellis Island Foundation Web Site
   Note:
   www.ellisisland.org