Marcos Evangelista Adón

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Marcos Evangelista Adón (1800–1872) was a Dominican revolutionary and military leader who fought in three major Dominican wars and helped found the town of La Victoria.

He was born in 1800 in El Seibo to José Lino Adón and Bernarda Abad, a Dominican family of African descent. He had two brothers, Ambrosio and Santiago, who also supported the national cause, and he later moved to Santo Domingo.

Adón joined the fight for independence on the night of February 27, 1844, becoming part of the Liberation Army and fighting many battles in the south against Haitian forces. By 1856 he had risen to colonel, and by the late 1850s he had become a general. He was a close ally of Pedro Santana, who at one point sought to rejoin Spain, a move Adón did not openly oppose but faced with quiet disapproval from many Creoles.

He was among the first in the eastern region to back the Restoration movement that began at Cerro de Capotillo on August 16, 1863. On October 2, 1863, in Hato Mayor, he led the uprising against Spain. After the failed uprising, Adón was arrested, sent to Cuba, then to Spain, from which he escaped and returned to join the patriots fighting the Spanish troops.

With Eusebio Manzueta, he organized guerrilla forces near what is now Villa Mella, leading them in night raids to disrupt Spanish supply lines across the Ozama and Yabacao rivers. His guerrillas were elusive and caused serious problems for the enemy. After a major ambush on a Spanish convoy, Adón founded a small town near his camp called Victoria del Ozama, now known as La Victoria.

By 1864–1865 the guerrilla actions extended across a large region, hindering Spanish advances toward the Cibao valley. Adón played a leading role in these efforts, and he participated in key engagements such as Arroyo Bermejo and Paso del Muerto. On July 11, 1865, he led the vanguard that entered Santo Domingo to demand Spain’s departure, earning widespread admiration from the people.

After independence, Adón continued to serve the Dominican Republic as Commander of Weapons in Santo Domingo and as Minister of War under President José María Cabral. In 1868, when Buenaventura Báez returned to power and sought US annexation, Adón went into exile to join Luperón, Cabral, and Pimentel in resisting annexation. He remained a committed fighter, commanding the southern-to-northern expedition against Báez’s government.

Adón lived his later years in Haiti and died in Jacmel on October 22, 1872 at the age of 72. He did not amass wealth, but his dedication and courage helped shape the country’s history. He is remembered as the founder of La Victoria and is honored at the National Pantheon of the Dominican Republic.