Juan Sánchez Ramírez
Encyclopedia
Juan Sánchez Ramírez was a soldier and Dominican Captain general
who ruled the Dominican Republic
between 1808 and 1811.
, Dominican Republic
. When he was young, he joined a company of lancers formed by townspeople. He began his career as a soldier in the Dominican Army
fighting against French occupation in order to maintain the Dominican nationality and his identity. He defeated to Ferrand in the Battle of Palo Hincado
and he evacuated the remaining French people who had sought protection behind the walls of Santo Domingo
. He requested to assistance from the British army established in Jamaica
, for force the French to surrender. However, the French refused to surrender to the Dominican army because latter were dressed in rags and they said that those constituted an embarrassment for France
. So it was that France finally occupied the colony.
He emigrated to Puerto Rico
in December 1803, but was on his need to return to his homeland in 1807, when he began its work of try win people to support him in the Reconquista of Santo Domingo
(Reconquest of Santo Domingo), while he was engaged also in the exploitation of timber cuts, on his possessions of the eastern shores, between Higüey and Jovero (now Miches
), where communications with Puerto Rico were easier.
Later, he returned to the eastern, that again it was under the tutelage of Spain. Then, the 13 December 1808, he was recognized as Captain General
of the Spanish colony. His government resembled that of an independent government: he revived trade with all friendly countries of Spain and he reopened the door of the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, UASD today. Under his government the board of Bondillo rejected among other things what stipulated in the Treaty of Basel
, 1795.
He annulled the confiscations made by the French colonial government and reestablished the ancient legal systems
He allowed the free access of the English to Spanish ports. He also tried to restore the Dominican economy, but Spain was at war with the South American countries and he was destituted of her newly recovered colony of Santo Domingo, which led to the period known as España Boba
(Boba Spain). He died on February 11, 1811. At his death the Dominicans declared him father of country, his ashes are buried in the National Pantheon.
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
who ruled the Dominican Republic
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...
between 1808 and 1811.
Biography
Juan Sánchez Ramírez was born in 1762 in CotuíCotuí
Cotuí is a city in the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities of the New World. It is the capital of Sánchez Ramírez Province in the Cibao. It was founded in the year 1510 by Rodrigo de Trujillo for order of Nicolas de Ovando, who was the governor of Hispaniola. Cotuí was the name of...
, Dominican Republic
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...
. When he was young, he joined a company of lancers formed by townspeople. He began his career as a soldier in the Dominican Army
Dominican Army
The Army of the Dominican Republic or Ejército Nacional de la República Dominicana, is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Navy and the Air Force....
fighting against French occupation in order to maintain the Dominican nationality and his identity. He defeated to Ferrand in the Battle of Palo Hincado
Battle of Palo Hincado
The Battle of Palo Hincado was the first major battle of the Spanish Reconquista of the colony of Santo Domingo, now the Dominican Republic. It was fought in the colony, on November 7, 1808, at Palo Hincado savanna, near El Seibo...
and he evacuated the remaining French people who had sought protection behind the walls of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. He requested to assistance from the British army established in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, for force the French to surrender. However, the French refused to surrender to the Dominican army because latter were dressed in rags and they said that those constituted an embarrassment for 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...
. So it was that France finally occupied the colony.
He emigrated to Puerto Rico
Puerto 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...
in December 1803, but was on his need to return to his homeland in 1807, when he began its work of try win people to support him in the Reconquista of Santo Domingo
Reconquista (Santo Domingo)
The war for Spanish reestablishment in Santo Domingo, better known as Reconquista was fought between November 7, 1808 and July 9, 1809. In 1808, following Napoleon's invasion of Spain, the criollos of Santo Domingo revolted against French rule....
(Reconquest of Santo Domingo), while he was engaged also in the exploitation of timber cuts, on his possessions of the eastern shores, between Higüey and Jovero (now Miches
Miches
Miches is a town in the El Seibo province of the Dominican Republic.Miches is a small town with many smaller towns surrounding it. Historically, it has its roots as a fishing town, deriving much of its income and protein from the surrounding waters...
), where communications with Puerto Rico were easier.
Later, he returned to the eastern, that again it was under the tutelage of Spain. Then, the 13 December 1808, he was recognized as Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the Spanish colony. His government resembled that of an independent government: he revived trade with all friendly countries of Spain and he reopened the door of the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, UASD today. Under his government the board of Bondillo rejected among other things what stipulated in the Treaty of Basel
Treaty of Basel
There were several Treaties of Basel:*Treaty of Basel *Peace of Basel *The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal...
, 1795.
He annulled the confiscations made by the French colonial government and reestablished the ancient legal systems
He allowed the free access of the English to Spanish ports. He also tried to restore the Dominican economy, but Spain was at war with the South American countries and he was destituted of her newly recovered colony of Santo Domingo, which led to the period known as España Boba
España Boba
España Boba or "The Era of Foolish Spain" was a period of time, from 1809 to 1821, in which the Spanish imperial government exercised only nominal power over its colony in Santo Domingo...
(Boba Spain). He died on February 11, 1811. At his death the Dominicans declared him father of country, his ashes are buried in the National Pantheon.
External links
- http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2005/3/20/147760/print Juan Sánchez Ramírez, héroe de la batalla de Palo Hincado declarado paladín de la Reconquista (In Spanish: Juan Sanchez Ramirez, hero of the Battle of Palo Hincado declared champion of the Reconquista)