BAEZ, Buenaventura (bah'-eth), president or the Dominican republic, born in Azua, Santo Domingo, early in the 19th century. He inherited a large fortune from his father, a mulatto, who was prominent in the revolution of 1808; cooperated with Santana in the establishment of Dominican independence; and was president from 1849 till 1853, when he was supplanted by Santana, who expelled him from the country. After the deposition of Santana in May 1856, Baez, who had spent the interval in New York, resumed the presidency, 6 October 1856; but was again supplanted by Santana, 11 June 1858, and obliged to remain abroad till after the evacuation of Dominica by the Span-lards in 1865. In December of that year he was elected for a third term. This was interrupted in March 1866, by an insurrection led by General Pimentel in favor of Cabral, in consequence of which Baez was banished to St. Thomas. A new revolution in December 1867, drove Cabral from power and restored Baez. After various direct and indirect negotiations, he signed, 29 November 1869, two treaties with President Grant, one for the cession of the bay of Samana, and the other for the annexation of the Dominican republic to the United States, subject to the approval of the people of the republic, which was ostensibly obtained in an election (decreed by Baez, 16 February 1870) held under the protection of American men-of-war. The United States senate, however, refused to ratify the treaty. A commission, appointed by President Grant, under authority of congress, to visit and examine the island, reported in April 1871, in favor of annexation ; but the measure was pressed no further, Its failure encouraged Cabral and Pimentel to renew the civil war.