Antonio Imbert Barrera

Who is Antonio Imbert Barrera?

Antonio Imbert Barrera was president of the Dominican Republic from May 7, 1965 until August 30, 1965. His predecessor in the post was Pedro Bartolomé Benoit; his successor, Héctor García-Godoy..

His first important position was as governor of Puerto Plata in 1940. He was removed from the post by the dictator Rafael Trujillo for sending a telegram to Trujillo informing the names of the survivors of the failed Luperón invasion. This caused, in a personal manner, the beginning of the murder plan against Trujillo.

On May 30, 1961 Trujillo was shot dead when his car was ambushed on a road outside the Dominican capital. Imbert, accompanied by Antonio de la Maza, Salvador Estrella Sahdala and Lt. Amado García Guerrero, was the driver of the ambushing vehicle. Most of those involved in the assassination plot were subsequently captured and executed, with the exception of Imbert and Luis Amiama Tió. Imbert went into hiding until December 2.

As a result, Imbert was declared a "National Hero", and was awarded the general grade Advitam.