Buenaventura Báez
Encyclopedia
Buenaventura Báez Méndez (July 14, 1812 March 14, 1884) was the President of the Dominican Republic
for five nonconsecutive terms. He is known for attempting to annex the Dominican Republic to other countries on multiple occasions.
, Dominican Republic. Báez's mother, Juana Méndez was a freed slave and his father was a wealthy merchant from Azua
. Báez inherited a fortune from his father and because of it was able to study in Europe. There, he learned various languages including: English, French and Creole.
from power.
In 1844 Báez helped to lead a successful rebellion against Haiti
, which established the independence of the Dominican Republic. He went to Europe in 1846 to convince France
to establish a protectorate over the Dominican Republic, but the French refused. As president for the first time, from 1849 until 1853, he attempted to convince the United States
to take over the country. He was President again from 1856 until 1858, when he was deposed in a coup.
Báez next supported the idea of having the Dominican Republic be taken over by Spain
. He went into exile in Spain and led a luxurious life there. The Spanish agreed to occupy the Dominican Republic in 1861, but by 1865 they had abandoned it. Báez then returned to the Dominican Republic and became President again until he was deposed in another coup in May 1866. He then served his longest term as President, from 1868 until 1874, during which time he again attempted to have the United States annex
the Dominican Republic. This time he was almost successful, as he convinced American President Ulysses S. Grant
to send warships to the Dominican Republic, and drew up an annexation treaty which reached the United States Senate
floor. The treaty, however, was not ratified in the Senate, and it became an embarrassment for Grant.
, at the time occupied by Spain, where he lived his final days.
He is buried in the Catedral de Santa María la Menor
.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
for five nonconsecutive terms. He is known for attempting to annex the Dominican Republic to other countries on multiple occasions.
Early years
Báez was born in Cabral, BarahonaCabral, Barahona
Cabral is a town in the Barahona province of the Dominican Republic.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
, Dominican Republic. Báez's mother, Juana Méndez was a freed slave and his father was a wealthy merchant from Azua
Azua Province
Azua is a province of the Dominican Republic.-Municipalities and municipal districts:The province as of June 20 2006 is divided into the following municipalities and municipal districts within them:...
. Báez inherited a fortune from his father and because of it was able to study in Europe. There, he learned various languages including: English, French and Creole.
Political career
During the Haitian occupation Báez served as the legislator of Azua to the ruling Haitian occupational government. This post was gained in part because of his role in the revolution that overthrew Jean Pierre BoyerJean Pierre Boyer
Jean-Pierre Boyer , a native of Saint-Domingue, was a soldier, one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution, and President of Haiti from 1818 to 1843. He reunited the north and south of Haiti in 1820 and also invaded and took control of Santo Domingo, which brought all of Hispaniola under one...
from power.
In 1844 Báez helped to lead a successful rebellion against Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, which established the independence of the Dominican Republic. He went to Europe in 1846 to convince France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to establish a protectorate over the Dominican Republic, but the French refused. As president for the first time, from 1849 until 1853, he attempted to convince the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to take over the country. He was President again from 1856 until 1858, when he was deposed in a coup.
Báez next supported the idea of having the Dominican Republic be taken over by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He went into exile in Spain and led a luxurious life there. The Spanish agreed to occupy the Dominican Republic in 1861, but by 1865 they had abandoned it. Báez then returned to the Dominican Republic and became President again until he was deposed in another coup in May 1866. He then served his longest term as President, from 1868 until 1874, during which time he again attempted to have the United States annex
The Annexation of Santo Domingo
The Annexation of Santo Domingo was an attempt to annex “Santo Domingo” by an expansionist movement in 1870 during the Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, for the United States of America to acquire the Dominican Republic as a U.S. territory and given eventual statehood. This movement was preceded by...
the Dominican Republic. This time he was almost successful, as he convinced American President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
to send warships to the Dominican Republic, and drew up an annexation treaty which reached the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
floor. The treaty, however, was not ratified in the Senate, and it became an embarrassment for Grant.
Exile and death
Báez became President again from 1876 until 1878, when he was deposed in a final coup and sent into exile to Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, at the time occupied by Spain, where he lived his final days.
He is buried in the Catedral de Santa María la Menor
Catedral de Santa María la Menor
The Cathedral of Santa María la Menor in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo is dedicated to St. Mary of the Incarnation. It is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, begun in 1512 and completed in 1540...
.
External links
- Buenaventura Baez at Find-A-Grave