Manuel Jimenes

Manuel Jimenes
Portrait of Manuel Jimenes c. 1840s
2nd President of the Dominican Republic
In office September 8, 1848 – May 29, 1849
Preceded by	Council of Secretaries of State
Succeeded by	Buenaventura Báez
General and Minister of War
In office November 19, 1844 – August 4, 1848
Personal details
Born	(1808-01-14)January 14, 1808 Baracoa, Cuba
Died	December 22, 1854(1854-12-22) (aged 46) Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Resting place	Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic
Nationality	Dominican
Other political affiliations	La Trinitaria
Spouse	María Francisca Ravelo de los Reyes (1835-18??) Altagracia Pereyra Pérez de la Paz (1849-1854)
Children	María del Carmen, Isabel Emilia, María de los Dolores, Manuel María and Manuel de Jesús. Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra
Military service
Allegiance	Dominican Republic
Branch/service	Dominican Army Liberation Army
Years of service	1844–1849
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Dominican War of Independence

Manuel José Jimenes González (January 14, 1808 – December 22, 1854) was one of the leaders of the Dominican War of Independence. He served as the 2nd President of the Dominican Republic from September 8, 1848, until May 29, 1849. Prior to that he served as the country's Minister of War and Marine Affairs.^[1][2][3]

The first constitutional governments of the brand new Dominican Republic had to face numerous difficulties. The National Assets Law of July 7, 1845 prevented the Church from recovering the assets confiscated by Jean-Pierre Boyer, putting it at odds with the government of Pedro Santana (1844 – 1848). The growing dictatorial nature of the government caused several deputies and senators to close ranks with the opposition. Added to these two problems were the economic difficulties caused by excessive military expenditures aimed at repelling a Haitian invasion, the poor management of finances and the prolonged drought that ruined the tobacco harvest, depriving the government of important tax revenues, which led to a 250 percent devaluation of the currency. Sick and depressed due to the poor economic situation, Pedro Santana resigned on August 4, 1848 and in his place was the Minister of War and Navy, Manuel Jimenes, a former Trinitario with a liberal tendency.^[4]

Without the skills to govern, Manuel Jimenes gradually loosened the reins of power. He dissolved the Army's infantry corps so that his men could go on to cultivate the fields, in addition to earning the antipathy of his supporters for putting obstacles to the return of some Trinitarios, despite the fact that he himself granted them a general amnesty. Unfortunately, a third Haitian invasion in 1849, crushed by Santana, allowed the former president to regain his lost political prestige. Thus, supported by the army, Santana rebelled against the government, and Jimenes, after being defeated in a short but violent civil war, went into exile. In the elections held on August 5, Buenaventura Báez, head of Congress, was elected president, on Santana's recommendation.^[4] Jimenes, distraught from his fall from power, left the country for Haiti, where he died in 1854.