He was born in Calapan, Mindoro on March 10, 1869. His father was Luciano Adriatico, a Caviteño who worked as a clerk of the Court of First Instance of Mindoro and his mother was Natalia Gonzales.

He studied at the San Juan de Letran where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1889 with the highest honors and at the University of Santo Tomas, he took up medicine but later shifted to law and philosophy and letters. He passed the bar examination in 1902.

He was also a prolific writer, contributing to different publications. Filipinos were not allowed to form literary society or found newspapers but he decided to form a secret society and called it the “Academy of Spanish Language and Literature.”

He also participated actively in the second stage of the Philippine Revolution. In July 1898 he helped the revolutionary forces from Batangas capture the remaining Spanish troops in Calapan. After the liberation of Mindoro, he organized an expeditionary force that liberated Romblon from the Spaniards and at the start of the Filipino-American War until 1901, he was Comandante de Estado Mayor of the Filipino Army in Panay.

As a politician, he organized the Conservative Party, whose aim was the preservation of the Hispanic heritage and the independence of the Philippines.

When the first Philippine Assembly was organized in 1907, he was a delegate for Mindoro where he served for three consecutive terms. In 1908, he authored Act No. 176, the original Manila City Charter. He also sponsored a bill creating two political districts in Manila. Thus he is known as the “Father of Manila’s City Charter.” He was an accomplished politician, serving as a majority floor leader and his brilliant literary skills were likewise recognized both in Spain and the Philippines. He was the first Filipino director of the Philippine Library and Museum.

In 1964 Manila City Council named Macario Adriatico Street after him.