Rafael Trujillo

President of the Dominican Republic (1891-1961)

Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina (/trˈhj/ troo-HEE-yoh, Spanish: [rafaˈel leˈoniðas tɾuˈxiʝo]; 24 October 1891 – 30 May 1961), nicknamed El Jefe (Spanish: [el ˈxefe], "The Chief" or "The Boss"), was a Dominican politician, soldier, and dictator. He ruled the Dominican Republic from August 1930 until his assassination in May 1961.[2] He was President from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952.[Note 1]

Generalissimo

Rafael Trujillo
Trujillo in 1952
36th & 39th President of the Dominican Republic
In office
16 August 1930 – 16 August 1938
Vice PresidentRafael Estrella Ureña (1930–1932)
Vacant (1932–1934)
Jacinto Peynado (1934–1938)
Preceded byRafael Estrella Ureña (acting)
Succeeded byJacinto Peynado
In office
18 May 1942 – 16 August 1952
Vice PresidentNone
Preceded byManuel de Jesús Troncoso de la Concha
Succeeded byHéctor Trujillo
Personal details
Born
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina

(1891-10-24)24 October 1891
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
Died30 May 1961(1961-05-30) (aged 69)
Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic
Cause of deathGunshot wounds
Political partyDominican Party
Spouse(s)
Aminta Ledesma y Pérez
(m. 1913⁠–⁠1925)

Bienvenida Ricardo y Martínez
(m. 1927⁠–⁠1935)

María de los Ángeles Martínez y Alba
(m. 1937)
Children7, including Ramfis and Angelita[1]
Profession
  • Soldier
  • businessman

On 30 May 1961, Trujillo was shot dead when his blue 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was ambushed on a road outside the Dominican capital.[3]

  1. Rafael Estrella from 3 March 1930 to 16 August 1930; Jacinto Peynado from 16 August 1938 to 7 March 1940; Manuel Troncoso from 7 March 1940 to 18 May 1942; Héctor Trujillo from 16 August 1952 to 3 August 1960; Joaquín Balaguer from 3 August 1960 until 16 January 1962, 8 months after Trujillo's death

References

change
  1. Espinal Hernández, Edwin Rafael (21 February 2009). "Descendencias Presidenciales: Trujillo" (in Spanish). Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. "I shot the cruellest dictator in the Americas". BBC News. 2011. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  3. Harris, Bruce. "Moreorless: Heroes & Killers of the 20th century". Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.