Desiderio Arias (1872-20 June 1931) was a Dominican caudillo who led resistance to the United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.
Biography[]
Desiderio Arias was born in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic in 1872, and he worked at a commercial house before serving in the Haitian Army under Horacio Vasquez and Ramon Caceres. President Juan Isidro Jimenes appointed him regional assistant, and Carlos Morales Languasco made him Governor of Montecristi in 1902; he served until 1906. In 1907, he rebelled against President Caceres, but his ally Demetrio Rodriguez was killed and he was exiled to St. Thomas, New York, and Puerto Rico. After Arias' assassination, Arias returned to Saint Thomas, and he then gathered guerrillas to invade the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1911. In 1912, he distinguished himself during the War of the Twelve, acquiring fame and popularity as an exceptional guerrilla fighter. He helped Jimenes return to power and was appointed his Minister of War and Navy in 1914, but the United States suspected Arias of planning to carry out a coup against Jimenes and occupied the country in 1914. In 1924, Horacio Vasquez was elected President of the Dominican Republic, leading to the end of the American occupation. Aria slater allied himself with Rafael Trujillo and plotted to overthrow Vasquez in 1924. In 1930, he became Minister of Agriculture and a senator, but he later fell out with Trujillo and was opposed his heavy-handed rule. Arias rebelled against Trujillo and took charge of 100 guerrillas, but he was ambushed by the Dominican Army at a ranch in Mao and was killed on 20 June 1931.