Gregorio Luperón

Gregorio Luperón (September 8th 1839, Puerto Plata, dead the May 21st 1897, Puerto Plata) was patriotic, general, revolutionist and provisional president of the Dominican Republic.

Wire of Pedro Castellanos and Nicolasa Luperón, owners of a ventorrillo (small shop), whose children had to sell on the street to help with the family subsistence. It started to work, as of the 14 years age, for Pedro Eduardo Dubocq, owner of an important specialized company in invaluable wood. And, as it showed a strength of character and a taste for work well done, its owner allowed him to use his library, to enrich his intellect, and the direction of the employees entrusted to him working wood with Jamao.

In 1861, it was only 22 years old when the annexation in Spain occurred which was to raise at his place a feeling of revolt. He was imprisoned for his standpoint, escaped and took refuge with the the United States, to return clandestinely, little of time after while passing by Monte Cristi, in order to take share with the rising of Sabaneta in 1863 (see war of Restoration). He then hid in the mountains of Vega, with others risen, preparing the revolution clandestinely.

After the episode del Grito de Capotillo , it went to Santiago where the direction of a canton was entrusted to him and a little later it was named general. Its combativeness and its patriotism were recognized by the government of Santiago. He was opposed then to Pedro Santana which directed the Spanish army, and although lower of number, its troops made a fight of very effective guerilla.

Between 1864 and 1865, it was elected vice-president of the government of the General Pedro Antonio Pimentel. He was opposed to Buenaventura Báez and put himself at the service of the general Jose María Cabral in 1866 in order to support the constitution (Triumvirate then provisional government). Luperón was forced to leave the Dominican Republic at the time when the claims annexationists of Baez resulted in a call to the forces of the United States. Luperón then called upon the solidarity of the Latin America and protested near the American Sénat.

He managed to drive out Baez of the capacity in 1874, to be obliged to exile itself again. Luperón had to wait two years to return to the country, while Ignacio María González and Baez shared the capacity. In 1876, Luperón accepted the ministry for the War and the Marine of the government of Ulises Francisco Espaillat, but even with the support of Luperón, Espaillat was obliged to give up the capacity, and Luperón to give up the country again.

He was elected provisional President of the Dominican Republic the December 6th 1879, and under its own recommendations, Fernando Arturo de Meriño succeeded to him, on September 1st 1880.

He died in Puerto Plata the May 21st 1897, of a terminal illness. Today, it has a monument with Puerto Plata and the airport bears its name.

External sites

Biography of Gregorio Luperón

Biography of Gregorio Luperón

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