Dominican Republic

Abstract

In 1863 this former Spanish colony, which had been declared independent in 1844, had just been re-annexed by the Spanish Government under O’Donnell (1861) and was waging a ‘War of Restoration’ under various patriotic leaders, supported by British, French and some Spanish interests. Their first provisional government lasted one year under the President, Gen. Salcedo (1863–64). It was soon after this that the peninsula of Samaná with its magnificent harbour was leased to the USA and a sterling loan worth £38,509 floated in Britain. The Spanish annexation forces submitted estimates for the year 1863 for $4,476,000 to cover all aspects of administration of a territory of some 20,000 sq. miles, with 150,000 inhabitants.