MORALES-LEMUS, Jose (mo-rah'-lays-lay'-mus), Cuban patriot, born in Gibara, Cuba, in 1808; died in New York city in 1870. He studied law at Havana, was admitted to the bar in 1835, and soon attained reputation as a lawyer. He was one of the first Cubans to free his slaves, and on account of his liberal political views and anti-slavery ideas was forced to emigrate to the United States in 1856. After living several years in this country he returned to Havana and became one of the leaders of his party, advocating liberal reforms in the island. He was one of the delegates sent to Spain in 1866 to lay before the Madrid government the wants of his countrymen. On his return to Havana he devoted himself to his profession, but the insurrection in the eastern part of the island in 1868 compelled him to take refuge again in the United States. As soon as he arrived in New York he was appointed president of the Cuban committee that was formed to aid the cause of the insurgents. The provisional government that had been established intrusted Morales-Lemus with the task of obtaining from the United States government the recognition of their belligerent rights, in which he did not succeed.