Horacio Vásquez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vásquez and the second or maternal family name is Lajara.

Horacio Vásquez
President of the Dominican Republic
In office July 24, 1924 – March 3, 1930
Vice President	Federico Velázquez (1924–1928) José Dolores Alfonseca (1928–1930)
Preceded by	Juan Bautista Vicini (provisional)
Succeeded by	Rafael Estrella Ureña (acting)
President of the Provisional Government Junta of the Dominican Republic
In office May 2, 1902 – April 23, 1903
Vice President	None
Preceded by	Juan Isidro Jimenes
Succeeded by	Alejandro Woss y Gil
President of the Provisional Government Junta of the Dominican Republic
In office September 4, 1899 – November 15, 1899
Vice President	None
Preceded by	Wenceslao Figuereo
Succeeded by	Juan Isidro Jimenes
Vice President of the Dominican Republic
In office November 15, 1899 – May 2, 1902
President	Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra
Preceded by	Wenceslao Figuereo
Succeeded by	Eugenio Deschamps Peña
Personal details
Born	October 22, 1860 Dominican Republic
Died	March 25, 1936 (aged 75) Espaillat province, Dominican Republic
Political party	Red Party
Spouse	Trina de Moya ​ (m. 1888)​

Felipe Horacio Vásquez Lajara (October 22, 1860 – March 25, 1936) was a Dominican Republic military general and political figure. He served as the president of the Provisional Government Junta of the Dominican Republic in 1899, and again between 1902 and 1903. Supporters of Vásquez were known as Horacistas, as opposed to Jimenistas, supporters of Vásquez's main rival, Juan Isidro Jimenes. He ran for a full term as president in 1914, but lost to Jimenes.

In 1888, Vásquez married Trina de Moya, a poet and writer from La Vega.

Following the occupation of the Dominican Republic by U.S. military forces from 1916–1924, Vásquez was democratically elected as president of the country and served between 1924 and 1930, and again separately in 1930 before being ousted by General Rafael Trujillo and sent into exile in Puerto Rico.

A metro station in Santo Domingo is named after him.

Early life

Horacio Vásquez was born on October 22, 1860, in the city of Moca in the Cibao region. His parents were Basilio Vásquez Lizardo (son of the Spanish Ramón Vásquez and the Mocana María Lizardo Caba) and Ramona Lajara Gómez (daughter of the Azuano Pedro Lajara and Tomasa Gómez).

Vásquez acquired important knowledge, as a young adult he dedicated himself to agricultural and commercial work, frequently traveling to La Vega, where he was related to his socially important family. A man of great stature and a strong physical presence, he quickly gained the popularity from people who especially appreciated him for his serenity, the rectitude of his conduct, his intellectual conditions and his distinguished bearing.

Horacio Vásquez was 26 years old when he entered politics a few days after the Moya Revolution broke out. When the city of La Vega was attacked by insurgent troops, he stood out in its defense, showing solidarity and fighting for the government headed by Alejandro Woss and Gil.

Political career

Horacio Vásquez in 1903.

In the military coup of 1902, Vásquez expelled President Jiménez, dissolved the congress and assumed power under the legal form of "Provisional President" with the support of the National Party and without naming a vice president. In 1903, faced with a chaotic situation in the economy and the threat of intervention by the United States, a coup d'état overthrew General Vásquez, who after several weeks of fighting, resigned as president of the provisional government in April 1903.

Horacio Vásquez (center) in 1924.

After the American occupation of 1916 until 1924 he returned to occupy the presidency of the Republic, after elections were held and with the approval of the American troops who withdrew from the island. He was elected president for the period 1924-1928 with 69.8% of the votes, but the forced extension of his mandate until 1930 and his eventual reelection caused a revolt by the National Guard, led by Rafael Trujillo, that overthrew Vásquez in 1930.

Vásquez's supporters were known as Horacistas, unlike the Jimenistas, supporters of Vásquez's main rival.