Juan Alejandro Acosta

Admiral

Juan Alejandro Acosta
Portrait of Juan Alejandro Acosta
Birth nameJuan Alejandro Acosta Bustamante
Bornc. 1813
DiedApril 2, 1886(1886-04-02) (aged 72–73)
Buried
Allegiance Dominican Republic
Branch Dominican Navy
 Dominican Army
Service years1844–1856
Rank Admiral
Conflicts

Juan Alejandro Acosta Bustamante (1813 – April 2, 1886) was born in Baní into a locally prominent family. At the age of sixteen, Acosta became a good friend of Juan Pablo Duarte. Acosta became a member of the secret patriotic society, La Trinitaria (The Trinity). He commanded the brigantine Leonor, the first ship to fly the Dominican flag. Acosta commanded various Dominican warships during the Dominican War of Independence. He opposed annexation of the Dominican Republic to another nation and was expelled from the Dominican Republic by Buenaventura Báez. He died in poverty.