Was Joan Agustí i Carreras just a name etched on a plaque? No he was a man of his time. We are standing before the Joan Agustí i Carreras Plaque. It commemorates a figure who played a significant role in the history of Sant Martí de Provençals.
Joan Agustí i Carreras was born in 1850. He died in 1891 in Sant Martí de Provençals. From the age of six he resided here. He became a prominent figure in local politics and pharmacy.
He served as the mayor of Sant Martí between 1885 and 1891. Beyond his mayoral duties Agustí was a pharmacist by trade. His pharmacy was located on Carrer del Taulat. Locals affectionately knew him as “en Joanet de la Maria de l’Hort.”
Agustí’s political involvement began early. At 22 he was a Republican councilor in the Sant Martí City Council. Two years prior he and some colleagues tried to secede Poblenou. They wanted to create an independent municipality.
Personal and economic issues within the council took their toll. Agustí tragically took his own life in 1891. His death sparked controversy when newspapers published obituaries with a cross. This was unusual for someone who died by suicide.
Despite the sad end Joan Agustí i Carreras was a popular mayor. This Joan Agustí i Carreras Plaque is a testament to his legacy. It is one of eight plaques dedicated to notable figures on the Rambla del Poblenou.
The Joan Agustí i Carreras Plaque is more than just a marker. It represents a life dedicated to public service. Agustí was a pharmacist a politician and a man deeply rooted in his community. Remember Joan Agustí i Carreras when you stroll along this lively Rambla. He helped shape the Poblenou we see today.