Antonio Imbert Barrera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Imbert Barrera
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| 44th President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office May 7, 1965 – August 30, 1965 |
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| Vice President | None |
| Preceded by | Pedro Bartolomé Benoit |
| Succeeded by | Héctor García-Godoy |
| Minister of Defense of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office October 8, 1986 – June 17, 1988 |
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| President | Joaquín Balaguer |
| Preceded by | Víctor M. Barjan Muffdi |
| Succeeded by | Elías Wessin y Wessin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 3, 1920 San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic |
| Died | May 31, 2016 (aged 95) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Nationality | Dominican |
| Spouses |
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| Relations | Carmen Imbert Brugal (niece) Segundo Imbert (grandfather) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
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| Profession | Army Major General |
Antonio Cosme Imbert Barrera (born December 3, 1920 – died May 31, 2016) was a Dominican military general. He was also the President of the Dominican Republic for a short time. This was from May to August in 1965.
Imbert was famous for helping to plan the assassination of dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1961. He was one of two main leaders in the Dominican Republic during the Dominican Civil War in 1965. After the war, he and his rival, Colonel Francisco Caamaño, both stepped down. A civilian, Héctor García-Godoy, then became the interim president.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Antonio Imbert Barrera came from a family with a strong military background. His father, Segundo Manuel Imbert Mesnier, was a Brigadier General. He played an important role in the northern part of the Dominican Republic.
His grandfather, Segundo Imbert, was also a Brigadier General. He was even the Vice-President of the Dominican Republic. He fought in the Dominican Restoration War. Imbert Barrera's great-grandfather, José María Imbert, was a French immigrant. He won important battles against Haiti during the Dominican War of Independence.
Antonio Imbert's first big job was as governor of Puerto Plata in 1940. He lost this job because he sent a telegram to then-president Rafael Trujillo. The telegram named people who survived a failed invasion. This event personally led Imbert to start planning against Trujillo.
Ending a Dictatorship
On May 30, 1961, dictator Rafael Trujillo was killed. His car was attacked on a road outside the capital city. Imbert was driving the car that ambushed Trujillo. He was with Antonio de la Maza, Salvador Estrella Sadhalá, and Amado García Guerrero. These men actively carried out the plan.
Most people involved in the plot were later caught and killed. But Imbert and Luis Amiama Tió managed to hide. Imbert stayed hidden until December 2.
After Trujillo's family was removed from power in 1962, Imbert was honored. He was called a "National Hero." He was also promoted to Major General for life.
During the Dominican Civil War in 1965, Imbert led one of the groups fighting. This group was called the Government of National Reconstruction. It was supported by U.S. troops. Imbert worked with the Americans and signed a peace agreement. This helped to end the April war.
Later Years and Family
On March 21, 1967, Antonio Imbert was shot in Santo Domingo. This was an attempt on his life by supporters of the late dictator Trujillo. He survived by driving himself to a medical clinic.
Later, on February 15, 1970, a plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea. His sister, Aída Imbert Barrera, his wife, Guarina Tessón Hurtado, and his daughter, Leslie Imbert Tessón, were on that flight.
Imbert served as Minister of Defense for the Dominican Republic from 1986 to 1988. He held the rank of Lieutenant General during this time. In 1989, he became the chairman of the board for Rosario Dominicana, a mining company.
Antonio Imbert Barrera passed away on May 31, 2016. He was 95 years old. This was the day after the fifty-fifth anniversary of Trujillo's assassination. The Dominican President, Danilo Medina, declared three days of national mourning. His niece, Carmen Imbert Brugal, said he died from problems related to pneumonia.
Marriages and Children
Antonio Imbert Barrera married Guarina Tessón Hurtado on September 10, 1939. They had three children:
- Antonio Segundo Imbert Tessón (born June 9, 1940), who became an army general.
- Leslie Imbert Tessón (1949–February 15, 1970), a sportswoman who died in the plane crash.
- Oscar José Antonio Imbert Tessón (born December 30, 1953), an architect. He designed the Punta Cana International Airport.
He also had a son named Manuel Antonio Imbert Sánchez (born April 1, 1939) with María Sánchez. Manuel Antonio became a police officer and diplomat.
After his wife Guarina died in 1970, Imbert Barrera married Giralda Busto Sánchez. They did not have any children together.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Imbert Barrera para niños
