José María Cabral

General José María Cabral y Luna (born Ingenio Nuevo; December 12, 1816 – February 28, 1899) was a Dominican military figure and politician. He served as the first Supreme Chief of the Dominican Republic from August 4, 1865, to November 15 of that year and again officially as president from August 22, 1866, until January 3, 1868.

For the film director, see José María Cabral (director). For the businessman, see José María Cabral Bermúdez. For the lawyer and foreign minister, see José María Cabral y Báez.
José María Cabral
Illustration of General José María Cabral
BornDecember 12, 1816
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
DiedFebruary 28, 1899 (aged 82)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Allegiance Dominican Republic
Service/branch Dominican Army
  • Liberation Army
  • Restoration Army
  • Blue Army
Years of service1844–1899
RankGeneral
Battles/warsDominican War of Independence
Cibaeño Revolution
Dominican Restoration War
Six Years' War
16th President of the Dominican Republic
In office
August 4, 1865 – November 15, 1865
Preceded byPedro Antonio Pimentel
Succeeded byPedro Guillermo
22nd President of the Dominican Republic
In office
September 29, 1866 – January 31, 1868
Preceded byTriumvirate
Succeeded byManuel Altagracia Cáceres

In his military career he stood out for his work commanding the troops that defeated Haiti in the Battle of Santomé (December 22, 1855), and even in the Cibaeño Revolution. After the annexation of Santo Domingo to Spain, decreed by General and President Pedro Santana in 1861, José María Cabral joined Francisco del Rosario Sánchez to fight against the annexation and restore the Republic. Once the country's independence was recovered in 1865, José María Cabral assumed the presidency of the second Dominican Republic. At the end of the same year, Buenaventura Báez took power, but was overthrown by Gregorio Luperón; Cabral then assumed his second presidential term.

A member of the Reform or Blue Party, José María Cabral's mandates were as arbitrary as those of his predecessors and successors. In 1868 he was overthrown by a movement that accused him of attempting to lease Samaná Bay to the United States. He then took part in the Six Years War, resulting in the overthrow of Báez. Afterwards, he lived his life away from political affairs until he died in 1899.

He was the only Dominican head of state that was a prominent participant in all 4 wars of liberation of the Dominican Republic.

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