Francisco del Rosario Sánchez

About

Former president of the Dominican Republic. A Dominican revolutionary, he is considered by Dominicans to be the second leader of the 1844 Dominican War of Independence. He is considered a national hero, a martyr, and one of the founders of the Dominican Republic. The Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella is partially named in his honor. 

Before Fame

He grew up in Santo Domingo during an economic and cultural crisis. He was the eldest of 11 children. His mother was a hairdresser and his father worked in the meat trade. Both his father and his aunt were involved in early resistance movements. He was recruited into the La Trinitaria movement for independence in 1838. 

Trivia

He was caught in a trap set up by his allies which led to his death in 1861. The national outcry sparked a new fervor for independence, which was achieved in 1865. He played various musical instruments and recited poetry. 

Family Life

He is the son of Olaya del Rosario Belén, a creole woman, and Narciso "Seño Narcisazo" Sánchez Ramona, who descended from slaves. He has had six children with five different women: Felícita Martínez, María Evarista Hinojosa, Leoncia Leydes Rodríguez, Mercedes Pembrén Chevalier, and Balbina de Peña Pérez. One of his sons died in infancy. 

Associated With

He took leadership of the independence movement after the exile of Juan Pablo Duarte.