Pedro Santana
| Pedro Santana | |
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 1st President of the Dominican Republic
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In office November 14, 1844 – August 4, 1848 |
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| Vice President | None |
| Preceded by | Inaugural holder |
| Succeeded by | Council of Secretaries of State |
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4th President of the Dominican Republic
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In office February 15, 1853 – May 26, 1856 |
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| Vice President | Felipe Benicio Alfau Bustamante (1853) Manuel de Regla Mota y Alvarez (1853-1856) |
| Preceded by | Buenaventura Báez |
| Succeeded by | Manuel de Regla Mota |
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8th President of the Dominican Republic
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In office August 31, 1858 – March 18, 1861 |
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| Vice President | Benigno Filomeno de Rojas y Ramos (1858-1861) |
| Preceded by | José Desiderio Valverde |
| Succeeded by | Annexation to Spain |
| 1st Governor-General of Santo Domingo | |
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In office March 18, 1861 – July 20, 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Himself as President |
| Succeeded by | Felipe Ribero |
| Supreme Chief of the Dominican Republic | |
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In office May 30, 1849 – September 23, 1849 |
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| Preceded by | Manuel Jimenes |
| Succeeded by | Buenaventura Báez |
| Personal details | |
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June 29, 1801 Hincha, Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (now part of Haiti) |
| Died | June 16, 1864 (aged 62) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Spouse(s) | Micaela Antonia Rivera Ana Zorrilla |
| Children | Jorge Andre |
| Religion | Catholic |
Don Pedro Santana y Familias, 1st Marquis of Las Carreras (June 29, 1801 – June 14, 1864) was a wealthy cattle rancher, soldier, politician and dictator of the Dominican Republic. He was born in the city of Hincha (today Hinche), which was part of the Colony of Santo Domingo and at the time, the third largest city of the Spanish colony, with 12,000 inhabitants (1785 church census). Currently, Hinche is located in Haiti. He was the first constitutional President of the Dominican Republic, and the first Marquess of Las Carreras.
His parents were Pedro Santana, a Native Mexican man, and Petronila Familias, a Canarian woman, both landowners in the border zone between Santo Domingo and Saint Domingue; this meant that Santana was a Mestizo man. Around 1805, Santana moved with his family to the Cibao valley, and later to El Seibo at the eastern part of the colony, where he eventually became a cattle rancher for two years.
Santana was the Dominican Republic's president (although he ruled as a dictator) during the years 1844–48, 1853–56, and 1858–61 (when Spain annexed the Dominican Republic as Santana wished). Thereafter, Santana became Governor, with the rank of Captain General of the territory. He held those titles until 1862.
Santana had great talent as a military leader, but was unable to leave his dictatorial personality on the battlefield. Though many historians criticise his rule as an economic disaster, Santana was meticulous in conducting public affairs, and obviously a great soldier.
Santana also fought with distinction in the Revolution of July 7, 1857, when Cibao placed their revolutionary army under his command. The Congress of the Dominican Republic awarded Santana the title of “Liberator of the Nation” on July 18, 1849 for his victory in the Battle of Las Carreras.
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Wikipedia