Ramón Castro Ruz

Who is Ramón Castro Ruz?

Ramón Eusebio Castro Ruz is the older brother of Fidel and Raúl Castro and a key figure of the Cuban Revolution.

As the eldest male Castro sibling, Ramón remained at home at the onset of the revolution, looking after his parents and the sizable farm owned by the family. This experience cultivated in Ramón an interest in agriculture which would remain a major element in his life.

Although not active in a military capacity like his brothers, Ramón Castro aided in the ongoing revolution as the quartermaster for the troops of Fidel and Raúl, sending them supplies, such as weapons and victuals. Not only was he responsible for furnishing supplies, he also established and maintained pipelines from the cities to the troops' position. Using his skills in both farming and engineering, Ramón also manufactured an alcohol-based fuel for Cuba during a gasoline shortage.

After the revolution, Ramón Castro abandoned the family farm as it became legal property of the state. He continued to dedicate himself to the study of agriculture, however, and is chiefly responsible for many of Cuba's agricultural initiatives since the revolution.

He is married, has two children, Ramón and Oneida Castro Rodríguez, and lives in Havana.