Juan Pablo Duarte

Born 1813 in Santo Domingo; died July 15, 1876, in Caracas. Dominican patriot.

In 1838, Duarte created the secret society La Trinitaria, the goal of which was to eliminate Haiti’s domination of the Dominican Republic. In 1843 he led a demonstration in Santo Domingo that demanded administrative reforms; for this action he was exiled from the country. After the country’s declaration of independence (1844), Duarte returned to Santo Domingo and became a member of the Central Junta; in July 1844 he was proclaimed president. However, power was seized by General Santana, who banished Duarte from the country. Duarte opposed the annexation (in 1861) of the Dominican Republic by Spain. In 1864 he returned to his native land in order to participate in the anti-Spanish struggle, but he was sent as part of a diplomatic mission to Venezuela, where he died.