Matías Ramón Mella, born 25 February 1816, is regarded as a national hero in the Dominican Republic. The Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella is partially named in his honor.

He contributed significantly during the 1844 Dominican War of Independence against Haiti, and was involved in the storming of St. Giles Fort by Dominican forces.

He was a member of the First Republic's provisional governing board, convened 28 February 1844.

Santo Domingo, 1816 - 1864) Leader of the Dominican independence. In 1838, sixteen years after the entire island of La Hispaniola unified under the domination of Haiti, Mella participated along with other patriots Dominicans (most notably Juan Pablo Duarte and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez) in the founding of the The Trinity secret society with the aim of overthrowing the regime of Haitian dictator Jean Pierre Boyer.

Subsequently Mella came into contact with the Haitian opposition leader Charles Hérard, which in turn led the reform movement. Together they managed to topple Boyer in 1843, but immediately sent Hérard imprison Mella in Port-au-Prince (Haiti).

However, in this very city a rebellion erupted against Hérard, who was only able to dominate with the help of Mella and its veterans incarcerated, so that the freed thanks. Mella and his followers marched up to Santo Domingo, captured the eastern part of the island,and formally declared its independence from Haiti and the proclamation of the Dominican Republic in February 1844.

It is said that one night of February 27, 1844, when he was reunited with other conjurados at the door of La Mercy, Ramon Matias Mella wise to shoot a trabucazo hesitation to give that threatened to tear up the purposes independence. "There is no time for back-said-that seems to be. We will be free or die, is the watchword. Viva the Dominican Republic! "And then fired su Trabuco. Subsequently, the Patriots marched toward the stronghold of San Gennaro (today door of Conde), where another patrician, Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, proclaimed to the world the birth of the Dominican Republic.

In the event of the Grito de Capotillo (16 August 1863), already very ill, Mella served as vice president of the Republic of the government of the Restoration. In this position was maintained until his death in 1864.

[edit] External sources

• Historical website of the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New York

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