Jose Gabriel García

José Gabriel García (January 13, 1834 - January 19, 1910) was a Dominican military, historian, politician, journalist and publisher. He is regarded as a cultural pioneer as well as the "Father of Dominican History". He is the author of "Compendium of History of Santo Domingo" written in four volumes in 1867, 1887, 1900 and 1906 respectively and made numerous contributions in the fields of culture, literature and education.

He is the founder of the first Dominican university, the Professional Institute (today University of Santo Domingo), co-founder of the country's first private printing and publishing company, Garcia Hermanos and founder of the country's first cultural society, "Los Amantes de las Letras" ("Lovers of the Letters"), responsible for establishing the first Dominican theatre and publishing the first Dominincan cultural newspaper "El Oasis", as well as the first Dominican magazine.

José Gabriel García was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on January 13, 1834 to priest Gabriel Rudesindo Costa (Toso) Ramirez (March 1, 1798 – 1841) and Ines García García (1795-1865). His father, born to Italian Bartolome Costa (b. Verona, Veneto) and Vicenta Toso (Ramirez) Carvajal of Genoese descent, was a clergy involved in politics who represented Santo Domingo from 1827 to 1832 in the legislative Assembly of Haiti as a deputy.

Many prominent military and politicians were born into the García family. His maternal grandfather, Jose Anselmo García, was a sergeant of the Spanish Army who opposed to the ruling of the Lic. Jose Nunez de Caceres in Fort San Jose on the night of November 30, 1821. His uncle, José del Carmen García, was one of the signatories of the Manifesto of January 16, 1844 and then served as lieutenant of artillery in the Battle of 19 March 1844, in Azua. His paternal granduncle, Lic./Capt. Tomas (Toso) Ramirez Carvajal, was a lawyer and mayor of the Royal Audiencia in 1820 and Captain of the Spanish cavalry with a decisive role in the Battle of Palo Hincado. Jose Gabriel García was also cousin of , co-founder of La Trinitaria along with Juan Pablo Duarte.

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