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José Desiderio Valverde Pérez | |
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| 7thPresident of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office June 13, 1858 – August 31, 1858 | |
| Vice President | Benigno Filomeno de Rojas |
| Preceded by | Buenaventura Báez |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Santana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1822 |
| Died | (1903-12-22)December 22, 1903 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Cibaenian |
| Relations | Ana Valverde (aunt) Antonio Sánchez-Valverde (first cousin-twice removed) Buenaventura Báez (third cousin) |
José Desiderio Valverde Pérez (1822 – December 22, 1903) was aDominican military figure and politician. He served as the 7thpresident of the Dominican Republic from June 13, 1858 until August 31, 1858.
He was born inSantiago in 1822. Son of José María Valverde Fernández, descendant of the Counts of Oropesa belonging to theSpanish nobility, and Ana María Teresa Pérez, a family dedicated to medium commerce.
He entered the military in 1844, as a prominent leader of theDominican War of Independence. He led theBattle of Santiago, in which Haitian forces were defeated in their attempt to penetrate through the valley ofCibao to occupy the country. Valverde, alongsideMatías Ramón Mella, participanted in the task of organizing the defense of the Cibao region, after the independence movement, organizing the troops ofSan José de las Matas. When the militia was organized he was assigned the rank ofCaptain. In 1845 he was Tribunate representing the city of Santiago. In theBattle of Sabana Larga in 1856, he distinguished himself and thanks to his military skills, victory was achieved. He was promoted toGeneral. He was Provincial Governor of Santiago.
He married Ana Rosa Mallol, in the city of Santiago, on February 26, 1848. This marriage produced seven children: Ana Rita, José Cipriano, José Emilio, Manuel Desiderio, Julia Ercilla, José Desiderio and José Desiderio Rafael Valverde Mallol.
In 1850, he was among many politicians to sign thetreaty with Great Britain, which meant the recognition of Dominican independence by an international power.
He led the bourgeois revolt in Santiago against the merchants, a movement that essentially also disputed the economic measures decreed by the country's president,Buenaventura Báez. He directed the provisional government established in Santiago on July 7, 1857, triggering theCibaeño Revolution. Once Báez was overthrown from the presidency of the State, Valverde was elected president by the Constituent Assembly ofMoca, held on March 1, 1858, although he resigned from office on the day August 28 of that same year. He was exiled to theUnited States. Theliberal constitution of Moca was annulled and General Santana returned to govern with theConstitution of 1854, which guaranteed him an authoritarian government.
His government's priorities consisted of improving the monetary system and reorganizing the public administration and the army. The highlight of his brief tenure was the move of the country's capital to Santiago.
As a supporter of the annexation to Spain, which occurred in 1861, General Valverde returned to his country, collaborating with the Spanish officials. Several years later, theDominican Restoration War had ravanged on the island. He accompanied the Spanish in their retreat to Puerto Plata. He settled down to live with his family in Santo Domingo. He was appointed by the Spanish government as Field Marshal of the annexationist army. He held the position of Director of Administration of the annexationist government. With the support given to the Spanish army, his figure fell into total discredit that was never lifted. After Spain's defeat, Valverde left the island.
In exile, he began a journey through several Ibero-American and European countries until Valverde settled perminantly in Spain, acquired numerous properties inTierra de Campos,Province of Valladolid, where a relative of his was death Deputy in Cortes for the constituency ofVillalón de Campos. Although, Valverde never intervened directly in Spanish politics.
During Báez's six-year government he was exiled. He then returned back to the country. He joined theBlue Party in 1879, led by GeneralGregorio Luperón. His figure did not rise in said party, due to his support for the annexationist government of 1861. He retired from political activities and dedicated himself to his family in the city of Santiago, where he died on December 23, 1903.
He was buried in the "March 30 Cemetery," in the so-calledUntouchable Pantheons.
In his honor, on March 27, 1958, a new province was created in the Dominican Republic, when the old province of Santiago was divided, giving it the name ofValverde Province, with capital in Santa Cruz de Mao (or simplyMao).
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| Preceded by | President of the Dominican Republic 1858 | Succeeded by |
