MENDIVE, Rafael Maria de (men-dee'-veh), Cuban author, born in Havana in 1821; died in 1886. He was educated in his native city, and began to cultivate literature from early youth. In 1845 he published a literary newspaper named "Flores del Siglo," and in 1847 a collection of his poems with the title of " Pasionarias." They were of a romantic character, and obtained wide recognition. From 1848 till 1852 he travelled in Europe, and, after returning to Cuba, founded the "Revista de la Habana," one of the best reviews in Spanish America. In 1869 he was banished from Cuba on account of his liberal opinions. He resided alternately in New York and Nassau, New Providence, where he wrote several legends and tales in verse, but in 1878 he returned to Cuba. Mendive is considered one of the best of Spanish-American poets, and many of his poems have been translated into English, French, and Italian. He has published, associated with three other writers, a book of poems called "Cuatro Laudes" (1856). A new edition of his poems was published by the Spanish critic Don Manuel Cafiete (Madrid, 1860), and other editions have appeared (Havana, 1861 and 1884). He translated Moore's "Irish Melodies" in verse (1863).