List of presidents of the Dominican Republic facts for kids

The National Palace is where the president works. It's also a big symbol of the president's job.

Since the Dominican Republic became independent in 1844, 54 different people have served as president. Some were elected, some were temporary, and some were in charge during special times. These leaders held the top job during 66 different periods. Sometimes, a group of people, like a triumvirate (a group of three leaders) or a military junta (a group of military leaders), led the country instead of one president.

Early Leaders (1844–1861)

The First Governing Group

The Central Government Junta was the very first group to lead the new Dominican Republic. This group had all the power: they made laws, enforced them, and judged cases. It started on February 28, 1844, and became official on March 1, 1844. This group faced two coups d'état (when a small group suddenly takes power). It ended when the first Constitution was announced on November 6, 1844.

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Notes
			Started	Ended	Total Time
		Francisco del Rosario Sánchez (1817–1861)	28 February 1844	1 March 1844	2 days	Temporary leader of the Central Government Junta.
		Tomás Bobadilla (1785–1871)	1 March 1844	9 June 1844	100 days	Leader of the Central Government Junta. He was removed from office by a coup.
		Francisco del Rosario Sánchez (1817–1861)	9 June 1844	12 July 1844	33 days	Leader of the Central Government Junta. He was removed from office by a coup.
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	12 July 1844	14 November 1844	125 days	Leader of the Central Government Junta.

First Presidents of the Republic

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Notes
				Started	Ended	Total Time
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	1844	14 November 1844	4 August 1848	3 years, 264 days	He stepped down.
		Manuel Jimenes (1808–1854)	1848	8 September 1848	29 May 1849	263 days	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	—	30 May 1849	23 September 1849	116 days	He was called "Jefe Supremo" (Supreme Leader).
		Santiago Espaillat (1785–185?)	July 1849	President-elect Espaillat never took office.		—	Espaillat was chosen to be president, but he didn't accept the job. He was worried that the previous president, Santana, would make it hard for him to govern.
		Buenaventura Báez (1812–1884)	Aug. 1849	24 September 1849	15 February 1853	3 years, 144 days
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	1853	15 February 1853	26 May 1856	3 years, 101 days	He stepped down.
		Manuel de Regla Mota (1795–1864)	—	2 January 1855	5 September 1855	246 days	He was the Vice-president under Pedro Santana and acted as president.
			—	26 May 1856	8 October 1856	135 days	He was the Vice-president under Pedro Santana and became president after Santana stepped down. He also stepped down.
		Buenaventura Báez (1812–1884)	—	8 October 1856	12 June 1858	1 year, 247 days	He was the Vice-president under Manuel de Regla Mota and became president after Mota stepped down. He also stepped down.
		José Desiderio Valverde (1822–1903)	—	7 July 1857	31 August 1858	1 year, 55 days	He declared himself president in Santiago de los Caballeros.
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	—	13 June 1858	31 January 1859	2 years, 278 days	He agreed for the country to become part of Spain again.
			1859	31 January 1859	18 March 1861

Spanish Rule (1861–1865)

During this time, the Dominican Republic was under Spanish control. The leaders were called "Captain-General of Santo Domingo."

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Notes
			Started	Ended	Total Time
		Pedro Santana (1801–1864)	18 March 1861	20 July 1862	1 year, 124 days	Captain-General of Santo Domingo. He stepped down.
		Felipe Ribero y Lemoine (1797–1873)	20 July 1862	22 October 1863	1 year, 94 days	Captain-General of Santo Domingo.
		Carlos de Vargas y Cerveto [es] (1803–1879)	23 October 1863	30 March 1864	159 days
		José de la Gándara y Navarro (1820–1885)	31 March 1864	11 July 1865	1 year, 102 days

Dominican Restoration War (1863–1865)

This was a war to get independence back from Spain.

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Notes
			Started	Ended	Total Time
		José Antonio Salcedo (1816–1864)	14 September 1863	10 October 1864	1 year, 26 days
		Gaspar Polanco (1801–1867)	10 October 1864	24 January 1865	106 days
		Benigno Filomeno de Rojas (1821–1865)	24 January 1865	24 March 1865	59 days
		Pedro Antonio Pimentel (1830–1874)	25 March 1865	11 July 1865	108 days	Spain gave up and left the island.

Second Republic (1865–1916)

Political parties

     Blue Party      Red Party      Green Party      Independent

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Political party	Notes
				Started	Ended	Total Time
		Pedro Antonio Pimentel (1830–1874)	—	11 July 1865	4 August 1865	24 days	—	He was removed from office by a coup.
		José María Cabral (1816–1899)	—	4 August 1865	15 November 1865	103 days	Blue	Cabral was called "Protector of the Republic" until a new president was chosen.
		Pedro Guillermo (1814–1867)	—	15 November 1865	8 December 1865	23 days	—	Guillermo was a temporary president until Buenaventura Báez returned from exile.
		Buenaventura Báez (1812–1884)	1865	8 December 1865	29 May 1866	172 days	Red	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Triumvirate	—	29 May 1866	22 August 1866	85 days	—	This was a group of three leaders: Pedro Antonio Pimentel, Gregorio Luperón, and Federico de Jesús García. The system where people voted directly was started.
		José María Cabral (1816–1899)	—	22 August 1866	29 September 1866	1 year, 162 days	Blue	Temporary president.
			1866	29 September 1866	31 January 1868			Cabral was the first Dominican president chosen by direct vote from the people. He was removed from office by a coup.
		Manuel Altagracia Cáceres (1838–1878)	—	31 January 1868	13 February 1868	13 days	—
		Junta of Generals	—	13 February 1868	2 May 1868	79 days	—	This was a group of generals who led the country.
		Buenaventura Báez (1812–1884)	1868	2 May 1868	2 January 1874	5 years, 245 days	Red	He was removed from office after losing the Six Years' War.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915)	—	25 November 1873	21 January 1874	57 days	Green	Supreme leader.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915) Manuel Altagracia Cáceres (1838–1878)	—	21 January 1874	5 February 1874	15 days	—	These generals were in charge of the country's highest power.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915)	1874	5 February 1874	23 February 1876	2 years, 18 days	Green	He stepped down.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	23 February 1876	29 April 1876	66 days	—	This was a group of government ministers who led the country.
		Ulises Francisco Espaillat (1823–1878)	1876	29 April 1876	5 October 1876	159 days	Blue	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Superior Governing Junta	—	5 October 1876	11 November 1876	37 days	—	This was another group of leaders in charge.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915)	—	11 November 1876	9 December 1876	28 days	Green	He stepped down.
		Marcos Antonio Cabral (1842–1903)	—	10 December 1876	26 December 1876	16 days	—	President of the temporary government group.
		Buenaventura Báez (1812–1884)	—	27 December 1876	2 March 1878	1 year, 65 days	Red	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915)	—	1 March 1878	3 May 1878	63 days	Green	President of the temporary government during a national movement.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	2 March 1878	5 March 1878	3 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		Cesáreo Guillermo (1847–1885)	—	5 March 1878	6 July 1878	123 days	Red	Temporary president.
		Ignacio María González (1838–1915)	1878	6 July 1878	2 September 1878	58 days	Green	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Superior Leaders of the Revolutionary Movement	—	2 September 1878	6 September 1878	4 days	—	This was a group of leaders from a revolutionary movement.
		Jacinto de Castro (1811–1896)	—	7 September 1878	29 September 1878	22 days	—	He was the President of the Supreme Court of Justice. He stepped down.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	30 September 1878	27 February 1879	150 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		Cesáreo Guillermo (1847–1885)	1879	27 February 1879	6 December 1879	282 days	Red	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Gregorio Luperón (1839–1897)	—	6 October 1879	1 September 1880	331 days	Blue
		Fernando Arturo de Meriño (1833–1906)	1880	1 September 1880	1 September 1882	2 years	Blue
		Ulises Heureaux (1845–1899)	1882	1 September 1882	1 September 1884	2 years	Blue
		Francisco Gregorio Billini (1844–1898)	1884	1 September 1884	16 May 1885	257 days	Blue	He stepped down.
		Alejandro Woss y Gil (1856–1932)	—	16 May 1885	6 January 1887	1 year, 235 days	Blue	He was the Vice-president and became president after Francisco Gregorio Billini stepped down.
		Ulises Heureaux (1845–1899)	1886	6 January 1887	27 February 1889	12 years, 201 days	Blue
			1888	27 February 1889	27 February 1893
			1892	27 February 1893	27 February 1897
			1896	27 February 1897	26 July 1899			He was killed.
		Wenceslao Figuereo (1834–1910)	—	26 July 1899	30 August 1899	35 days	Blue	He was the Vice-president and became president after Ulises Heureaux was killed. He was removed from office by a coup.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	31 August 1899		0 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		People's Revolutionary Governing Junta	—	31 August 1899	4 September 1899	4 days	—	This was a group of leaders from a people's revolution.
		Horacio Vásquez (1860–1936)	—	4 September 1899	15 November 1899	72 days	Red	Temporary president.
		Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra (1846–1919)	1899	15 November 1899	2 May 1902	2 years, 168 days	Blue	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Horacio Vásquez (1860–1936)	—	26 April 1902	23 April 1903	362 days	Red	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Alejandro Woss y Gil (1856–1932)	—	23 March 1903	1 August 1903	246 days	Blue	Temporary president.
			1903	1 August 1903	24 November 1903			He was removed from office by a coup.
		Carlos Felipe Morales (1868–1914)	—	24 November 1903	17 June 1904	2 years, 30 days	Red	Temporary president.
			1904	17 June 1904	24 December 1905			He stepped down.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	24 December 1905	29 December 1905	5 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		Ramón Cáceres (1866–1911)	—	29 December 1905	1 July 1908	5 years, 325 days	Red	He was the Vice-president and became president after Carlos Felipe Morales stepped down.
			1908	1 July 1908	19 November 1911			He was killed at the start of the 1911–1912 Civil War.
		Council of Secretaries of State	—	19 November 1911	5 December 1911	16 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		Eladio Victoria (1864–1939)	—	5 December 1911	27 February 1912	361 days	—	Temporary president chosen by the Congress.
			1912	27 February 1912	30 November 1912			He stepped down at the end of the 1911–1912 Civil War.
		Adolfo Alejandro Nouel (1862–1937)	—	1 December 1912	13 April 1913	133 days	—	He was the Archbishop of Santo Domingo. He was a temporary president chosen by the Congress. He stepped down.
		José Bordas Valdez (1874–1968)	—	14 April 1913	15 June 1914	1 year, 134 days	—	Temporary president chosen by the Congress.
			June 1914	15 June 1914	27 August 1914			He stepped down at the end of the 1914 Civil War.
		Ramón Báez (1858–1929)	—	28 August 1914	5 December 1914	99 days	—	Temporary president.
		Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra (1846–1919)	Oct. 1914	6 December 1914	4 May 1916	1 year, 150 days	Blue

United States Occupation (1916–1924)

During this time, the United States military took control of the Dominican Republic.

Political parties

     Blue Party      Independent

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Political party	Notes
			Started	Ended	Total Time
		Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra (1846–1919)	4 May 1916	7 May 1916	3 days	Blue	He stepped down because of the United States occupation.
		Council of Secretaries of State	7 May 1916	31 July 1916	85 days	—	This was a group of government ministers.
		Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal (1859–1935)	31 July 1916	29 November 1916	121 days	—	Temporary president chosen by the Congress. The United States removed him.
No president (29 November 1916 – 21 October 1922)
		Juan Bautista Vicini Burgos (1871–1935)	21 October 1922	12 July 1924	1 year, 265 days	—	Temporary president.

Third Republic (1924–1965)

Political parties

     Red Party (Red)      Republican Party (Republican)      Dominican Party (PD)      Rafael Trujillo and his puppet presidents      Independent      Military      Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)		Elected	Time in Office			Political party	Notes
					Started	Ended	Total Time
		Horacio Vásquez (1860–1936)		1924	12 July 1924	3 March 1930	5 years, 234 days	Red	He was removed from office by a coup.
			Rafael Estrella Ureña (1889–1945)	—	3 March 1930	16 August 1930	166 days	Republican	He became president after a coup. He was a "puppet president" for Rafael Trujillo, meaning Trujillo secretly controlled him.
			Rafael Trujillo (1891–1961)	1930	16 August 1930	16 August 1934	8 years	Confederation of Parties
				1934	16 August 1934	16 August 1938		PD
			Jacinto Peynado (1878–1940)	1938	16 August 1938	7 March 1940	1 year, 204 days	PD	He died while in office. He was a puppet president for Rafael Trujillo.
			Manuel de Jesús Troncoso (1878–1955)	—	7 March 1940	18 May 1942	2 years, 72 days	PD	He was the Vice-president and became president after Jacinto Peynado died. He was a puppet president for Rafael Trujillo.
			Rafael Trujillo (1891–1961)	1942	18 May 1942	16 August 1947	10 years, 90 days	PD	He finished Jacinto Peynado's presidential term.
				1947	16 August 1947	16 August 1952
			Héctor Trujillo (1908–2002)	—	1 March 1951	1 October 1951	9 years, 155 days	PD	Acting president.
				1952	16 August 1952	16 August 1957			He was a puppet president for Rafael Trujillo.
				1957	16 August 1957	3 August 1960			He stepped down. He was a puppet president for Rafael Trujillo.
			Joaquín Balaguer (1906–2002)	—	3 August 1960	31 December 1961	1 year, 150 days	PD	He was the Vice-president and became president after Héctor Trujillo stepped down. He was a puppet president for Rafael Trujillo until Trujillo was killed on May 30, 1961. He stepped down.
		Council of State under President Joaquín Balaguer		—	1 January 1962	16 January 1962	15 days	—	This was a group of leaders. They were removed from office by a coup.
		Civic-Military Junta under President Huberto Bogaert		—	16 January 1962	18 January 1962	2 days	Military	This was a group of military and civilian leaders.
		Council of State under President Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly		—	18 January 1962	27 February 1963	1 year, 40 days	—	This was another group of leaders.
		Juan Bosch (1909–2001)		1962	27 February 1963	25 September 1963	210 days	PRD	He was removed from office by a coup.
		Víctor Elby Viñas Román (1925–2004)		—	25 September 1963	26 September 1963	1 day	Military	President of the temporary government group.
		Triumvirate under President Emilio de los Santos		—	26 September 1963	23 December 1963	88 days	Military	This was a group of three leaders.
		Triumvirate under President Donald Reid Cabral		—	23 December 1963	25 April 1965	1 year, 123 days	Military	This group was removed from power during the Dominican Civil War.

Dominican Civil War (1965)

This was a conflict where different groups fought for control of the country.

Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Group	Notes
		Started	Ended	Total Time
	Revolutionary Committee	25 April 1965		0 days	—	This was a group of revolutionary leaders.
	José Rafael Molina Ureña (1921–2000)	25 April 1965	27 April 1965	2 days	Constitutionalist (Supported Juan Bosch)	He stepped down.
No president (27 April 1965 – 4 May 1965)
	Francisco Caamaño (1932–1973)	4 May 1965	3 September 1965	122 days	Constitutionalist (Supported Juan Bosch)	He was chosen as president by the Congress. He stepped down.
No president (25 April 1965 – 1 May 1965)					Loyalist (Supported the Government)	This was a group of military leaders. They stepped down.
	Military Junta	1 May 1965	7 May 1965	6 days
	Government of National Reconstruction	7 May 1965	30 August 1965	115 days	Loyalist (Supported the Government)	This was a group that tried to rebuild the government. They stepped down.
No president (30 August 1965 – 3 September 1965)
	Héctor García-Godoy (1921–1970)	3 September 1965	1 July 1966	301 days	Transitional Government	Temporary President.

Fourth Republic (1966–Present)

Political parties

     Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC)      Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)      Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)      Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM)

	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Political party	Notes
				Started	Ended	Total Time
		Joaquín Balaguer (1906–2002)	1966	1 July 1966	16 August 1970	12 years, 46 days	PRSC
			1970	16 August 1970	16 August 1974
			1974	16 August 1974	16 August 1978
		Antonio Guzmán Fernández (1911–1982)	1978	16 August 1978	4 July 1982	3 years, 322 days	PRD
		Jacobo Majluta Azar (1934–1996)	—	4 July 1982	16 August 1982	43 days	PRD	He was the Vice-president and became president to finish Antonio Guzmán's term.
		Salvador Jorge Blanco (1926–2010)	1982	16 August 1982	16 August 1986	4 years	PRD
		Joaquín Balaguer (1906–2002)	1986	16 August 1986	16 August 1990	10 years	PRSC	After problems with the elections in 1994, an agreement was made to limit presidents to two terms in a row.
			1990	16 August 1990	16 August 1994
			1994	16 August 1994	16 August 1996
		Leonel Fernández (born 1953)	1996	16 August 1996	16 August 2000	4 years	PLD
		Hipólito Mejía (born 1941)	2000	16 August 2000	16 August 2004	4 years	PRD
		Leonel Fernández (born 1953)	2004	16 August 2004	16 August 2008	8 years	PLD
			2008	16 August 2008	16 August 2012
		Danilo Medina (born 1951)	2012	16 August 2012	16 August 2016	8 years	PLD
			2016	16 August 2016	16 August 2020
		Luis Abinader (born 1967)	2020	16 August 2020	16 August 2024	4 years, 312 days	PRM
			2024	16 August 2024	Currently in office

Timeline from 1844

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de la República Dominicana para niños

• History of the Dominican Republic
• President of the Dominican Republic
• Vice President of the Dominican Republic