| Pedro Santana y Familias, 1st Marquis of Las Carreras | |
|---|---|
| 1st President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office November 13, 1844 – August 4, 1848 |
|
| Succeeded by | Manuel Jimenes |
| 4th President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office February 15, 1853 – May 26, 1856 |
|
| Vice President | Felipe Benicio Alfau Bustamante (1854) Manuel de Regla Mota y Alvarez (1854-1856) |
| Preceded by | Buenaventura Báez |
| Succeeded by | Manuel de Regla Mota |
| 8th President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office July 28, 1858 – March 18, 1861 |
|
| Vice President | Benigno Filomeno de Rojas y Ramos |
| Preceded by | José Desiderio Valverde |
| Succeeded by | Annexation to Spain |
| 1st Governors-General of Santo Domingo | |
| In office March 18, 1861 – July 20, 1862 |
|
| Preceded by | Himself as President |
| Succeeded by | Felipe Ribero |
| Supreme Chief of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office May 30, 1849 – September 23, 1849 |
|
| Preceded by | Manuel Jimenes |
| Succeeded by | Buenaventura Báez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1801 Hinche, Colony of Santo Domingo (Presently part of Haiti) |
| Died | June 16, 1864 (aged 62) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Spouse(s) | Micaela Antonia Rivera Ana Zorrilla |
| Religion | Catholic |
Pedro Santana y Familias (Pedro Santana y Familias, 1st Marquis of Las Carreras) (June 29, 1801 – June 14, 1864) was a wealthy cattle rancher, soldier, politician and dictator of the Dominican Republic. He was born in the community of Hinche, which was part of the Colony of Santo Domingo. Currently, Hinche is a border town part of Haiti. He was the first constitutional President of the Dominican Republic, and the first Marqués de las Carreras.
Contents |
His parents were Pedro Santana and Petronila Familias, landowners in the border zone. Around 1805, Santana moved with his family to El Cibao, and later to El Seibo at the eastern part of the country, where he eventually became a cattle rancher.
He held the office of the presidency during the years 1844-1848, 1853–1856, and 1858-1861 (when Spain annexed the country). Thereafter, Santana became Governor, with the rank of Captain General of the territory. He continued in this post until 1862. He also received the Spanish noble title of Marqués de las Carreras, which was given as a recognition to his victory in the Battle of Las Carreras.
Santana was characterized by his great military talents, dictatorial tendencies, annexationist desires, and meticulousness in public affairs. Politically, his actions are criticized by many historians, though without doubt he was a great soldier, which is demonstrated by his participation in numerous battles, including: Battle of March 19; Azua in 1844; and Battle of Las Carreras. He also fought with distinction in the Revolution of July 7, 1857, when the residents of Cibao placed the revolutionary army under his command.
The Congress of the Dominican Republic awarded him the title of “Liberator of the Nation” on July 18, 1849 for his victory in the Batalla de las Carreras.
He is considered a brilliant military strategist, and was a key figure in the successful separation of the Dominican Republic from Haiti. But many historians think that some of his later actions barred him from becoming a genuine national hero.
On June 16, 1864, Pedro Santana died in the city of Santo Domingo, shortly after having been awarded the hereditary title of Marqués de las Carreras (28 March 1862) by Queen Isabel II of Spain, and was buried in the Ozama Fortress next to the Torre del Homenaje.