The Dominican officer who assassinated a dictator and later ruled the nation himself

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Antonio Imbert Barrera was a central figure in the 1961 assassination of dictator Rafael Trujillo. He survived the subsequent purge of conspirators, rose to become a national hero, and eventually served as president during the turbulent Dominican Civil War of 1965, leaving behind a complex and deeply contested legacy.

Born in 1920 into a prominent military family, Antonio Imbert Barrera was destined for a life of political and martial influence. His lineage included a grandfather who served as vice-president and a great-grandfather who fought for independence against Haiti. Imbert’s own path to power began in 1940 as governor of Puerto Plata, though his relationship with the regime soured after he reported on the survivors of the failed Luperón invasion. This friction, compounded by the imprisonment of his brother, set the stage for his involvement in the plot to remove Rafael Trujillo.

On May 30, 1961, Imbert drove the vehicle that ambushed Trujillo’s car, later claiming he fired the fatal shot. While most co-conspirators were captured and executed, Imbert and Luis Amiama Tió survived by going into hiding. Following the collapse of the Trujillo family’s control, Imbert was declared a national hero and promoted to Major General for life. His influence peaked during the 1965 Civil War, where he led the Government of National Reconstruction against constitutionalist forces, collaborating with U.S. troops to eventually sign a peace agreement.

Imbert’s later years were marked by both tragedy and continued public service. He survived an assassination attempt by Trujillo loyalists in 1967 and lost his wife and daughter in a 1970 plane crash. Despite his status as a hero, his legacy remains a point of intense debate. In 2013, a foundation of former constitutionalist soldiers petitioned the National Congress to strip him of his title, citing his support for the 1965 coup and the U.S. occupation. He died in 2016 at age 95, one day after the 55th anniversary of the assassination that defined his life.

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