Early years

Quiñones was born into a wealthy family of landowners in San Germán, Puerto Rico, and at a young age developed his lifelong love for literature and journalism. He was sent to Europe where he attended private schools. After he finished his secondary education, he went on to university studies in Bremen, Germany; France, and New York City. When Quiñones returned to Puerto Rico in 1848, he went to work for the family business.^[1]

Abolitionist

In 1865, the Spanish Crown requested from the municipalities of Puerto Rico recommendations for new laws and Quiñones was elected representative for San Germán. In 1867, Quiñones represented Puerto Rico before the "Overseas Information Committee" meeting in Spain. Together with Segundo Ruiz Belvis and José Julián Acosta, he demanded the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico and also protested over the injustices practiced by the governor General Romualdo Palacio González in the island.^[1]

Politician

When Quiñones returned to the island, he joined the Puerto Rican Liberal Reformist Party and in 1871 was elected as representative in front of the Spanish Courts. In Spain he continued his fight for the abolition of slavery.

In 1887, Quiñones joined the Autonomist Party headed by Luis Muñoz Rivera. There were some disagreements between Muñoz and some of the members which led to a rupture in the party. Among those who abandoned the party were Quiñones and José Celso Barbosa, who went on to form the Orthodox Autonomist Party.^[1]

On 10 February 1898, Spain granted Puerto Rico the rights to self-determination, which was considered the first step towards independence. Quiñones was named President of Puerto Rico's first Cabinet by General Macías.^[1]

In 1898, after the Spanish–American War when Puerto Rico became a colonial territory of the United States, Quiñones joined the Puerto Rican Republican Party founded by Celso Barbosa and which championed the idea of converting Puerto Rico into a state of the U.S. Quiñones was elected and served as a representative in the House of Delegates in 1900 and 1902 Mayor of San Germán.^[1] On 13 September 1908, Quiñones died in San Germán and a private mourning the following day on the house floor was attended by Muñoz, José de Diego, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, R. Arrillaga, José R. Laurrauri, Pedro F. Colberg, Carlos H. Blondet, and V. Trelles Oliva; a public funeral was held at 7 P.M.^[2]