1852
RAMÓN Y CAJAL, AN ARAGONESE FAMILY
Santiago Felipe Ramón y Cajal was born on May 1 in Petilla de Aragón, the son of Justo Ramón and Antonia Cajal. His father, a native of Larrés, had moved there to work as a surgeon in September 1849.
The Ramón y Cajal are a family from Aragon. Cajal’s parents were born into families with little prospect of a better future in the town of Larrés, in the province of Huesca (Spain). Don Justo Ramón, his father, was a shepherd, a farmhand and also a barber’s apprentice. He was illiterate, taught himself to read and write and had a great ambition: to become a doctor. He travelled on foot to Barcelona to complete his training as a second-class surgeon, and upon his return to Larrés, he began a relationship with Antonia Cajal. Once he had found work in the nearby town of Petilla de Aragón, they got married and had their first child. Santiago Felipe Ramón y Cajal was born on May 1, 1852, and spent his childhood and youth in various towns in Aragon, following his father’s medical postings and pursuing his own studies.
Photograph taken by Santiago Ramón y Cajal, showing Antonia Cajal with her four children. Cajal-CSIC Legacy. Cajal’s passion for photography allows us to take a comprehensive visual journey through his life and career.
ARAGON, PLACES FROM HIS CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH
There were many towns in Aragon that welcomed Santiago Ramón y Cajal during those early years: Larrés, Luna, Valpalmas, Ayerbe, Jaca, Huesca, Gurrea de Gállego, Zaragoza, Panticosa or San Juan de la Peña.
1852
Santiago Ramón y Cajal was born on May 1 in Petilla de Aragón, the son of Justo Ramón and Antonia Cajal.
1854
The family moved to Larrés, his parents’ hometown. “My earliest memories, which are quite vague and hazy, are of Larrés”. His brother Pedro was born.
1855
Don Justo was appointed second-class surgeon and the family moved to Luna. He got into his first mischief, hit a horse and got kicked—an incident that could have cost him his life.
1856
Transfer to Valpalmas. He went to school and learnt French from his father in a cave now known as “the friar’s cave”. Three events left a lasting impression on him: a lightning strike at the school, a solar eclipse and the celebrations marking the Spanish victories in Africa.
1860
The family settled in Ayerbe. This is where he would spend much of his childhood and youth, as well as his summers while studying abroad. His passion for painting and nature awoke. He became infamous for his pranks and was even sent to prison.
1861
In an effort to discipline him, Don Justo sent him to the Escuelas Pías boarding school in Jaca to pursue his high school studies. Punishments, constant runaways and poor grades.
1864
His father decided to send Santiago to high school in Huesca. He found city life overwhelming. He took up gymnastics and slingshot shooting.
1866
His poor grades and behaviour led Don Justo to take him out of school, and he began working as a shoemaker’s apprentice in Gurrea de Gállego, where the family was staying temporarily. The following year, he resumed his studies in Huesca and graduated from high school.
1869
Cajal arrived in Zaragoza to pursue his pre-medical studies at the university, his “beloved alma mater”.
1877
At the thermal waters of Panticosa Health Resort, he recovered from an episode of haemoptysis linked to poorly treated malaria contracted in Cuba.
1877-78
Upon returning from Panticosa, he continued his recovery at the monastery of San Juan de la Peña, where he regained his strength. He took several photographs that are now considered the oldest of this site.