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José Núñez de Cáceres

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José Núñez de Cáceres
In office
May 7, 1813 – February 9, 1822
Preceded byJuan Sánchez Ramírez
Succeeded byJean Pierre Boyer
Personal details
BornMarch 14, 1779 (1772-03-14)
Hispaniola, Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
DiedSeptember 11, 1850 (2024-09-22UTC18:51)
Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
NationalityDominican and Venezuelan
SpouseJuana de Mata Madrigal Cordero
ChildrenPedro, José, Francisco de Asis, Gregorio and Maria de la Merced.
Residence(s)Santo Domingo, Venezuela, Mexico
ProfessionPolitician and writer


José Núñez de Cáceres (Santo Domingo, March 14, 1772 † Ciudad Victoria, September 11, 1846) was a Dominican politician and writer. He was the leader of Dominican independence when Spain ruled the country. and he was also the first person in the country to use literature as weapon of social protest and politics.

Early years

José Núñez de Cáceres y Albor was born on March 14, 1772 or 1779, in Santo Domingo. He was the son of Francisco Nuñez and Maria Albor. His mother died a few days after birth. He was raised by his aunt Maria Nuñez. Since childhood, Núñez de Cáceres showed great love for the studies but his father was a farmer and he wanted to his son dedicate the work of the field, that's why he did not like your child pay more attention to studies. Núñez de Cáceres was raised in a very poor family. He had to study the books of his classmates because he was not all the books he needed. He could earn some money to help his aunt selling the doves that an acquaintance hunted to speculate on them.

political career

At 23, he got Nuñez de Cáceres Civil Law degree, he formed a distinguished clientele, and he became a professor at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas. In 1799, after transfer of the colony of Dominican Pepublic to France under the Treaty of Basel, the family moved to the Audiencia Real of Puerto Príncipe (now Camagüey) from Cuba. It was in this city, where in August 1800, Núñez de Cáceres was appointed Rapporteur by Charles IV, which was not prevented from exercising their profession. Núñez de Cáceres also served in tenure and advice from the government in Havana. In late 1808 after the Dominican reconquest by Spain, he returned to his homeland, where he wrote his famous song The winners of Battle of Palo Hincado in the action of November 7, 1808, and the June 29, 1810 he was appointed Lieutenant Governor, General Counsel and Government Service Judge Advocate General's Corps of the province of Santo Domingo. In 1812, ordered the issuance of paper money and adopted emergency measures. On May 7, 1813 he was given the interim government of the colony after death of his governor Juan Sánchez Ramírez and after a brief period of government of the colony by Manuel Knight and Mason ((1811-1813). Núñez de Cáceres was involved in trouble with Lieutenant José Álvarez de Toledo, who had been appointed by the Spanish Central as Junta alternate deputy to the Cádiz Cortes. His revolutionary ideas were denounced by Núñez de Cáceres, President of the Courts. He based on two confidential letters that Álvarez de Toledo had sent to Sánchez Ramírez. The Courts decided to prosecute Alvarez de Toledo, but he could not be found. It is known that in 1812 a manifesto printed in Philadelphia censuring the conduct of Cortes, Nuñez de Caceres think in tyranny that had and urged the American provinces to independencia. He Noted for his tenacity to Improve the Economic Situation of the colony, which was almost ruined. He Noted for his tenacity to Improve the Economic Situation of the colony, which was almost ruined. He had constant clashes with the authorities, especially with Sánchez Ramírez. At his death, Núñez de Cáceres try occupy a position as Member of the Royal Audience of Quito, which was vacant, but he found great opposition in court and he did not get the work. Apparently this disappointment drove him to do revolutionary work for try bring the colony under the protectorate of Colombia. For ten years he tried to not climb to Court's in rise as creditor of their services. According to his biographer, Dr. Morilla, the failure of claimant was probably due to his enmity with Francisco Javier Caro, director of the Indies, because Núñez de Cáceres was chosen as interim governor, after that a family member had passed to the island of Cuba on charges of conspiring in favor of Haiti. It seems like this disappointment, was which led him to start his early revolutionary, not to wean the colony, but for put under the protectorate of Colombia, others say it was to join federation to that republic. While he ruled, he returned to teaching in the old University of Santo Domingo. In 1818, he was replaced in the Dominican governance by Sebastián Kindelán y Oregón (1818 - 1821).

The struggle for independence

Núñez de Cáceres wanted independence from the Dominican República and ask for the annexation of his country to the Gran Colombia. He had tried to wean his country from Spain by a coup in the spring of 1821, but this failed due to measures taken by Sebastián Kindelán y Oregón, and the conspirators to did not receive a response to time of Simón Bolivar. The governor, however, despite the steps taken, and denunciation of the plot, did not mind, allowing Núñez de Cáceres prosecute to captain Manuel Martinez for the crime of libel. Pascual Real, the new governor, who arrived in the colony in May of that year, not only gave credit to the whistleblowers who confirmed the veracity of the conspiracy by Núñez de Cáceres, but very soon learned the name of his followers. As Real had no troops, he devoted himself to observe the behavior of the suspects and to win the confidence of key military leaders. A group haitianofilo, familiar with the plans of Núñez de Cáceres and its people, explained to Boyer the political situation that the Dominican Republic lived at this time, with the purpose of annexation the that former colony. On November 8, Major Andrew Amarante proclaimed the start of annexation of that Republic in Beler and seven days later he spoke in the same direction of Dajabón and Monte Cristi. He oup decided to act quickly. Also the same day it announced the Constitutive Act of Independence, that rules out the general functions of the new government and secured their determination to conclude an agreement with the Gran Colombia to establish a Confederate state with her, without giving up sovereignty the country; he start the Separatist Movement on November 30, 1821 and the next month, Friday 30. December, troops of the battalion, commanded by dark, they took by assault the fortress, enclosing within its walls to the governor. At dawn the next day it was announced the establishment of the Independent State of Spanish Haiti (Dominican Republic). Immediately thereafter, they proceeded to the reading of the Dominican Declaration of Independence written by Núñez de Cáceres. He established a joint interim government, whose president was himself Núñez de Cáceres and he gave a Constitution that contains a stain of disgrace, which was unacceptable to his time. That blur was the maintenance of slavery. Núñez de Cáceres was president of the provisional government. To avoided a invasion from neighboring Haiti, Núñez de Cáceres sent to Venezuela to one of the most prominent members of his party, Antonio María Pineda, to inform Bolívar, the Liberator but was absent from Caracas, and neither the vice president Francisco de Paula Santander or the commanding general of the city, General José Antonio Páez, lent him the slightest attention.

Haitian invasions

Almost simultaneously with the proclamation of the Independent State of Spanish Haiti, arrived in Santo Domingo a commission of three sent by Jean Pierre Boyer, President of Haiti. Haitian officials had to report the pronouncements of Pascual Real and observe the situation from Dajabón and Monte Cristi. Aware of political change, Colonel Fremont, Haitian head of the commission, informed Núñez de Cáceres, newly appointed chairman of the state, which he would support the new government Boyer. However, this called to Senate to inform the decision to move to the east in order to enforce the unity and indivisibility of the island. On January 11, 1822, as Núñez de Cáceres found no support he sought in Colombia, Boyer wrote to Núñez de Cáceres a letter announcing his intention to visit the eastern part together with stunning force, but not as an invader, but as a peacemaker, while warning him there would be able to avoid obstacles. When Núñez de Cáceres read that message, he realized that everything for which he had fought in vain. Like most of the population was black and mulatto, preferring to ally to Haiti, where had not slavery, had no other choice but to answer that military commanders and the City had agreed to be placed under the protection of Haitian law. He same Núñez de Cáceres, seven weeks later, on Saturday January 19, replaced the Colombian flag and replaced it with the Haitian, and Saturday February 9, 1822, he presented to President Boyer the keys to the city of Santo Domingo. Howevar, in August, Cáceres was still in Santo Domingo, making clandestine efforts to obtain support from the authorities of Gran Colombia. Boyer learned of his activities and demanded the exile José Núñez de Cáceres arguing that his presence was an inconvenience on the island and that if it was absent voluntarily, embarked by force.

Later years

On January 6, 1815, after rebuilt the old University of Santo Domingo, where he had taught, he returned to teaching at this university and because of the efforts he made as captain-general, the cloister of doctors, chose him as the first rector of the institute and they agreed that his portrait, paid for by the guild, be placed in the lecture hall. In late 1822, Núñez de Cáceres lived with his family in Maracaibo, Venezuela. In 1824, he was in Caracas, putting the printing trade. More late, after of his participated in some newpapers of country, exploded of the movement of the Cosiata, to which he actively joined. On May 5, 1826, when the Municipality of Caracas decided to give full powers to General José Antonio Páez and join the revolution started in Valencia, José Núñez de Cáceres was chosen, together with Pedro Pablo Diaz, to bring the news to Páez. On May 14, Núñez de Cáceres was beside him when in Valencia he reaffirmed his disobedience to Bogotá government. Subsequently, Páez appointed to Núñez as private secretary and adviser, a position he held until early January 1827. With this office he forced Bolívar to wean Venezuelan from la Gran Colombia. Páez Accepted the idea of Núñez de Cáceres so he gave her international passport to Bolívar. On 7 November the same year, in the Assembly the held in the convent of San Francisco in Caracas, in which he participated and spoke Paez, he gave one of the most revolutionary speeches, arguing that "the social pact was dissolved". In early 1827, when the movement was paralyzed in the presence of Bolivar, Núñez de Cáceres decided to leave Venezuela bound for Mexico.

He and his family went to Mexico, where he first settled in the city of San Luis Potosi and then in Ciudad Victoria, capital of Tamaulipas. In the early years, he practiced law. In 1830 he was named prosecutor of the supreme court. In 1833 he was elected senator of the State of Tamaulipas and member of the Mexican Confederation Congress and in the same year he was named Distinguished Citizen of Tamaulipas.

He served with General Moctezuma at the Well of Caramel, and he endorsed the agenda of this soldier. In 1834 he was appointed treasurer of Public Finance, a position which he alternated with his attorney Professions.

By 1844 he became seriously ill and the State Government and the Departmental Board of Tamaulipas assigned a pension to alleviate their pain. On September 11, 1846 he died in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.

Literary career

José Núñez de Cáceres also had an important role as a writer. José Núñez de Cáceres founded on 15 April 1821, in Santo Domingo, the newspaper El Duende, considered the second national Dominican newspaper. This weekly -political and sati-rich- newpaper that circulated the Sunday in the city of Santo Domingo had thirteen numbers disappearing on 15 July of that year. Through El Duende Núñez de Cáceres was released as a fabulist, for here he published nine of his fables. He also founded the newspaper El Relámpago (Lightning) in this city. In late 1822, Núñez de Cáceres lived with his family in Maracaibo, Venezuela. In 1824, he was in Caracas, putting the printing trade. From his studio came during the years of 1824-1826, several newspapers, books and pamphlets; between newspapers include: El Constitucional Caraqueño (The Constitutional from Caracas) and La Cometa (The Comet), a newspaper that harshly attacked Simón Bolívar, as well as recent issues of the newspaper El Venezolano. In Venezuela, in addition to the forum and engage in journalism, he wrote others three fables.

Some of the fables that he wrote were:el conejo (the rabbit), la oveja y el lobo (the sheep and the shepherd ), el lobo y el zorro (the wolf and the fox), la araña y el águila (the spider and the eagle) and la aveja y abejorros (the bee and bumble). These fables were signed under the pseudonym "El fabulista principiante" (The fabulist beginner). He was credited as the first Dominican fabulist and one of the first storyteller in Hispanic America.

Personal Life

At the end of the 18th century Núñez de Cáceres married Juana de Mata Madrigal Cordero and they had six children: the first, Pedro, was born in Santo Domingo on April 2, 1800, and last, Maria de la Merced, in the same city in 1816. When Ñúñez de Cáceres lived in Camagüey, Cuba, born others three children: José, the September 9, 1804; Francisco de Asis, 15 September 1805, and Gregorio, on June 8, 1809.

Moreover, in their literature, Núñez de Cáceres was a very learned writer and updated. he Know to all the classics fabu-lists (Aesop, Phaedrus, Jean de La Fontaine, Felix Maria Samaniego and Tomas de Iriarte) and, consciously he influenced, especially in the use of character animals : eagle, bee, Donkey, Stork, Rabbit, Lamb, Came-ment, Owl, Wolf, Mule / a, Palomo / ay Raposa / o. As a rational person, it is common the Pastor. Of the nineteen characters who act in the eleven tales of Creole fabulist, thirteen are found in Iriarte, twelve in Aesop and La Fontaine, nine in Phaedrus and eight in Samaniego. Interestingly, the mule, horse and donkey cross-and bumble appear in two of the fables of Núñez de Cáceres, but not in any of those written by the classic fable above.


After the Dominican hero's death, his disciple Venezuelan Simon de Portes, who moved with him to Mexico, made in the act of inhumaci of the remains of the great Dominican, a speech where he said: "Rare event: here, not far Padilla, which ceased to be the hero of Igualada, which sealed the independence of Mexico, Dominican gentleman dies almost hear the roar of the cannon of the unjust invading Anglo-time same as before his death this unfortunate hero rejoices with the nice idea that the inhabitants of Santo Domingo, after many battles, been driven from its territory to its oppressors ... It is full of joy José Núñez de Cáceres with such a happy event, and as you stop the course of death gradually led him to the grave ".

See also

Sources