Juan Pablo Duarte

Juan Pablo Duarte,  (born 1813, Santo Domingo, Hispaniola [now in Dominican Republic]—died 1876, Caracas, Venez.), father of Dominican independence, He was a visionary and liberal thinker who along with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella is widely considered the architect of the Dominican Republic and its independence from Haitian rule in 1844.
 His aspiration was to help create a self-sufficient nation established on the liberal ideals of a democratic government.

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Duarte, who was sent to Europe for his education (1828–33), became determined to free the eastern part of Hispaniola from Haitian domination. On his return to the island he and several other patriots organized a secret society, La Trinitaria, to work toward independence and to stimulate liberalism.
 
 His first attempt to oust the Haitians in 1843 collapsed, and he fled the country; but his followers succeeded in overthrowing the Haitians the next year.

 Duarte and others founded a society called La Filantrópica, which had a more public presence, seeking to spread veiled ideas of liberation through theatrical stages. All of this, along with the help of many who wanted to be rid of the Haitians who ruled over Dominicans led to the proclamation of independence on February 27, 1844 (Dominican War of Independence)


In February 1844 Duarte returned, and the Dominican Republic proclaimed its independence. It was not Duarte’s followers, however, who ultimately triumphed, but a local caudillo (military dictator), Pedro Santana. The defeated Duarte was exiled and took up residence in Caracas, Venez. He left Caracas for his homeland only once, during the War of Restoration (1864) against Spain, after which he was sent on a diplomatic mission for one year.



 Duarte, then living in Venezuela, was made the Dominican Consul and provided with a pension to honor him for his sacrifice. But even this after some time was not honored and he lost commission and pension. He, Juan Pablo Duarte, the poet, philosopher, writer, actor, soldier, general, dreamer and hero died nobly in Caracas at the age of 63. His remains were transferred to Dominican soil in 1884—ironically, by president and dictator Ulises Heureaux,—and given a proper burial with full honors.

 He is entombed in a beautiful mausoleum, the Altar de la Patria, at the Count's Gate (La Puerta del Conde), alongside Sanchez and Mella, who at that spot fired the rifle shot that propelled them into legend.
 His birth is commemorated by Dominicans every January 26.

Juan Pablo Duarte square, NYC