Juan Sánchez Ramírez
Juan Sánchez Ramírez (1762–11 February 1811) was a Dominican general who was the primary leader of the War of Reconquista. He is known for leading the troops in the Battle of Palo Hincado. The decisive Dominican victory resulted in the end of French rule in eastern Hispaniola in 1809.
Juan Sánchez Ramírez | |
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Portrait of Governor Juan Sánchez Ramírez. Work by Luis Desangles | |
| Governor of the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo (1809–1821) | |
| In office 13 December 1808 – 11 February 1811 | |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Caballero y Masot |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1762 Cotuí, Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (later the Dominican Republic) |
| Died | 11 February 1811 (aged 48-49) Santo Domingo, Captaincy General of Santo Domingo |
| Resting place | National Pantheon of the Dominican Republic |
| Nationality | Spanish and Dominican |
| Spouse | Josefa del Monte y Pichardo |
| Children | Juana and José |
| Parent(s) | Francisca Ramírez and Miguel Sánchez |
| Residence(s) | Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico (1803–1807) |
| Occupation | Planter, politician and military commander |
| Profession | Politician and Captain general |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain Dominican Republic Spain |
| Branch/service | Dominican Army Spanish Army |
| Years of service | 1793–1811 |
| Rank | Captain general |
| Battles/wars | War of the First Coalition
Reconquest of Santo Domingo
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In 1795, the island of Santo Domingo ceased to be linked to Spain by the Peace Treaty of Basel (Switzerland), which put an end to the War of the Convention (1793–1795), by which it passed under French rule. In 1808, after Napoleon invaded Spain, the La Reconquista movement was created on the island, led, among others, by Sánchez Ramírez, with the aim of returning to Spanish rule.
Sánchez Ramírez, an agricultural landowner of Criollo origin, had already fought against the French in the War of the Convention, and in 1803 he had emigrated to Puerto Rico, from where he returned in 1807 to foment the insurrection. To do this, he requested the help of the governor of Puerto Rico, Toribio Montes, and of Dominican settlers who had fled to that island, with whose forces he revolted against the French troops of general and governor Jean-Louis Ferrand, whom he defeated on 11 July 1808 in the battle of Palo Hincado.
Shortly after, with the help of the English fleet that came to support him from Jamaica, he managed to take the capital of the island. He was therefore appointed captain general and mayor of the island by the Junta of Seville, thereby reestablishing Spanish sovereignty. During his government he harshly repressed any independence attempt, acting with total impunity in the face of the indifference of the Spanish metropolis.He maintained this position until his death in 1811, afterwards the colony attained its independence from Spain in 1821.