Origins & Early Life

Elías Wessin y Wessin (July 22, 1924 – April 18, 2009) was a Dominican politician and air force general. Wessin help lead the military coup which ousted the government of Dominican President Juan Bosch in 1963, replacing it with a triumvirate. He was also a key figure in the ensuing Dominican Civil War, which led to a United States military intervention into and occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1965. Wessin was born in Bayaguana, Monte Plata Province, Dominican Republic, on July 22, 1924.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His parents were immigrants from the coastal town of Dekwaneh in Lebanon. The family name in Lebanon as it is used today is spelt Wazen, a phonetic variant of the name in Lebanese Arabic. Wessin's career in the Dominican Air Force began as a military pilot. Wessin's first intervention in Dominican politics as an air force officer began in 1961, following the assassination of President Rafael Trujillo, a dictator. Wessin, who commanded an infantry battalion at the time of Trujillo's assassination, helped Trujillo's wife and family to flee the country.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During the Revolution, Wessin refused to abandon his post because he did not want the rebels, whom he accused of...

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