Jacinto Peynado

Who was Jacinto Peynado?

Jacinto Bienvenido Peynado was the President of the Dominican Republic from August 16, 1938 until February 24, 1940 during the Trujillo Era. During his 31-year regime, dictator Rafael Trujillo appointed four individuals to serve as ceremonial Presidents while retaining direct, behind-the-scenes control of the Executive branch. Prior to ascending to the Presidency, Peynado served as Trujillo's Vice President from 1934 to 1938.

Peynado came from a distinguished Dominican family and was educated in Santo Domingo as a lawyer and worked as a law professor at University of Santo Domingo. He was appointed Minister for Justice and Public Education by President Ramon Baez in 1914 and retained that position in Juan Isidro Jimenez's government. He also served as Minister of the Interior. His brother, Francisco, had negotiated with Charles Evans Hughes the treaty that terminated the occupation by the Marines in 1924.

Peynado briefly served as interim President of the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, interrupting Rafael Estrella Urena's term of office from April 22, 1930 until May 21, 1930, when Urena resumed the presidency. Peynado served as secretary of the interior, police, and war in General Trujillo's subsequent government. He became secretary to the President in 1932, and was elected Trujillo's Vice President in 1934. Peynado was Trujillo's hand-picked candidate in the elections held in 1938. He assumed the presidency on August 16, 1938, though Trujillo largely continued to control the country. Peynado retained office until February 24, 1940, when his ill health forced him to cede the Presidency to Vice President Manuel de Jesús Troncoso de la Concha. He died in Santo Domingo on March 7, 1940.