Caamaño Deñó, Francisco (1932–1973)

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Caamaño Deñó, Francisco (1932–1973)

Francisco Caamaño Deñó (b. 11 June 1932; d. 16 February 1973), leader of the 1965 constitutionalist revolt in the Dominican Republic and president of the Dominican Republic (1965). Born in Santo Domingo, Caamaño began a career in the military in 1949, following in the footsteps of his father, Fausto Caamaño Medina, one of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo's most notorious generals. His father's influence enabled Caamaño to advance rapidly through the military ranks. When the April 1965 revolt split the military, Colonel Caamaño sided with the rebels in their efforts to reinstate the constitutional government of Juan Bosch (elected December 1962; overthrown September 1963). Caamaño became the leader of the revolutionary troops, and in an emergency session on 4 May 1965, the Dominican National Assembly elected him constitutional president, a position lasting until 31 August. The United States intervened, installing Héctor García-Godoy as interim president of the republic in September. In 1966, following the renewal of hostilities between the rebels and the conservatives, Caamaño was sent to London, effectively exiled, to assume a diplomatic post. A year later he abandoned the position and fled to Cuba, where he spent the next six years planning a campaign to overthrow the government of Joaquín Balaguer (elected 1966). On 3 February 1973, Caamaño landed with a guerrilla band on Dominican soil. Less than two weeks later, he was captured and executed.

See alsoDominican Revolt (1965) .