3José Antonio "Pepillo" Salcedo y Ramírez, first President of the Restoration Government of the Dominican Republic, was born around 1816 to his parents José María Salcedo and María Luisa Ramírez y Marichal. His parents were Dominicans exiled to Cuba during the Era de Francia. His mother's family arrived in 1803 to Baracoa and departed the city in 1811, likely returning to the colony of Santo Domingo. It is currently uncertain if his parents were born in the modern Dominican Republic or Baracoa, Cuba. Pepillo's birthplace is unconfirmed and was either Madrid, Spain, Baracoa, Cuba, or somewhere in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.

He had one sister, Dolores Salcedo y Ramírez, who married a Mr. Sabés. Pepillo married Águeda Rodríguez y Pimentel of Las Matas de Santa Cruz, the daughter of Gregorio Rodríguez y Guzmán and Bárbara Pimentel. The couple had 7 children: José Tomás (born 1841), Silvestre, Cristina (born 1851), María Eugenia, Antonina (born 1846), Leonor and Julia Salcedo Rodríguez.

Pepillo grew up in la Línea where he administered land with large herds of livestock and a logging business in the northwest. Places where he operated were in Hatillo Palma, Estero Balsa, and Botoncillo. He also had a military career and though his early career isn't documented, he does appear as a commander in the west during the Dominican War of Independence from Haiti.

Salcedo was described as a soldier of inexhaustible physical stamina and unsurpassed courage in combat, a highly skilled horseman and in blades. He was no more than five foot six inches, blond, blue eyes, and handsome with a strong build. On one occasion riding more than thirty leagues in a single day and needing no effort to continue his march

While he was not documented in the beginning of the conflict between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, he appeared as a Coronel in the Battle of Sabana Larga which occurred January 24, 1856. This was the final and decisive battle between the two sides that solidified Dominican independence and brought open hostilities to an end after almost 12 years. Coronel Salcedo was part of the 6,500-7,000 men Dominican Northern Army led by General Juan Luis Franco Bidó and defeated the larger Haitian Army led by Emperor Faustin I.

In the following year of 1857, during an uprising known as the July Revolution, a coup against Buenaventura Báez, Pepillo Salcedo was a commander against the Haitian invasions during this period and opposed liberal forces by fighting in support of Báez during a coup against his regime. Báez was ousted and exiled and Pedro Santana rose to power. In 1860, Santana wrote a letter to Queen Isabel II of Spain requesting the annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain.

Spain reclaimed possession of the Dominican Republic as a colony in 1861 occupying the country with 30,000 Spanish troops with added 12,000 Dominican allies, as well as Cuban and Puerto Rican volunteers. The United States was unable to enforce the Monroe doctrine at this time due to the American Civil War, but political and military opposition to Spain persisted on the island as Spanish influence impacted the local's lives with fears of reintroducing slavery, racial hierarchy, and religious intolerance. The newly appointed archbishop, Bienvenido de Monzón, appalled at the large numbers of Dominican couples unwed due to the conditions of the country, wanted to rectify the situation quickly which irritated the Dominicans. Armed riots and many movements occurred with the aim to restore the republic and remove the Spanish.

What would have affected Pepillo Salcedo more in his alienation of Spanish governance was the policy of bagajes which required Dominicans to relinquish work animals to the Spanish military without any guarantee of compensation, affecting those in the Cibao immensely. There were also general tariffs on non-Spanish goods which affected the local economy and alienated merchants.

On February 21, 1863, a rebellion erupted in Guayubín which spread across the Cibao. The Patriots took the town the following day, entering the town triumphantly. There the improvised revolutionary army was born with many commanders from Monte Cristi distributing positions amongst themselves.

While in support of the February insurrection, Pepillo Salcedo did not take action when he learned that Lucas de Peña started the cause early due to Norberto Torres' drunkenly revealing the plot putting the authorities on alert and issuing arrests. As the uprising exploded, the governor of Santiago, General José Antonio Hungría was forced to abandon his post to engage with the rebels. He had been Pepillo's commander in the Battle of Sabana Larga and arriving in Guayubín, General Hungría had Pepillo appear before him demanding the signing a of document stating acceptance of the annexation. Pepillo heard him and though not wanting to dismount his horse he stood and responded with rude firmness:

"No puedo aceptar con mi firma la anexión, puesto que soy un soldado de la Independencia, en la guerra por la Patria serví a usted con gusto pero en esta cesión no le acompaño."

"I cannot accept the annexation with my signature, since I am a soldier of the Independence. I gladly served you in the war for the Fatherland, but I will not support you in this concession."

Without saying goodbye, he mounted his horse and left Guayubín. During his escape, a Spanish troop's marching with trumpets and drums startled Salcedo's horse and the two fell with Pepillo shouting "Carajo!" to the Coronel in command.

The city of Santiago rose in revolt with General Hungría's departure, but were put down by Spanish forces. The government decreed martial law and a state of emergency. Conspirators in the insurrection were executed and the battle to restore the republic blazed forward.

A situation arose that same month on Salcedo's land as one of his workers (sources name him as Luciano Tavárez or a man surnamed Olivos) had attacked Salcedo or fought him in a personal duel which resulted in the worker's being stabbed and killed in self-defense by Salcedo. It was rumored that the Spanish had paid him off to kill Salcedo. In any case, Salcedo was a fugitive for the killing in the eyes of the Spanish and was arrested on February 25 in Boca de San Marcos where he was later transferred to Santiago.

In Santiago he was a prisoner until he was rescued from his incarceration on August 21. Pancholo Viñals, a native of Santiago and weapons dealer to the patriots, was able to help Pepillo Salcedo escape from the old prison. Following this, Juan Borbón, another native of Santiago, assisted Pepillo Salcedo in transporting him from the Rio Yaque in a canoe, through difficult and hidden paths and trails in the mountains to Guayubín. It happened that upon their arrival to the town, it had just been declared for the Patriots. He joined Juan Antonio Polanco and other commanders in Guayubín and from there marched towards Dajabón. There he sought to bring an end to a reign of terror that Spanish Coronel Juan Campillo was engaging in the area. With the arrival of forces from Guayubín, Campillo's forces retreated and took refuge in Haitian territory. Pepillo Salcedo gathered men and departed to Santiago.

On September 1, 1863, after just arriving from Dajabón, Pepillo Salcedo commanded the capture of El Castillo. It was a severe blow to Spanish strength and morale. Following this, the Patriot army sieged the city of Santiago on September 6th as it was vital for control of the Cibao. Spanish commanders included Spanish Brigadier Manuel Buceta, General Hungría, General Alfau and General Achile Michel. Dominican Patriots marched into the city in the early morning and fighting lasted for several days. The Spanish in the Fortaleza San Luis were able to defend multiple Dominican attacks when General Gaspar Polanco received news of Spanish reinforcements from the north. Fighting on two fronts would be disastrous for the Dominicans and their efforts to siege the fort. It was decided that the city would be set ablaze to make the city useless to the Spanish. The strategy was successful in that regard as the fire tore through the city aided by operating distilleries in the city like those of Jacinto Ramírez aided in spreading the fire on September 13. In the ashes of the city, the Spanish retreated to Puerto Plata the next day and on that day, September 14, a new republic was established with Salcedo elected President of the Dominican Republic.

Salcedo immediately denounced Santana as a traitor and attempted to engage the United States for assistance, but was unsuccessful. A guerilla war had begun as the Spanish were better supplied and organized than the Dominicans. Due to most of Salcedo's time being spent on campaign, Vice-President Benigno Filomeno de Rojas was given a greater role in executive duties during Salcedo's presidency. Salcedo's approach to the presidency was to spend his time on campaign, leading battles, supervising war affairs, and maintaining compliance with ordinances. De Rojas was succeeded by Ulises Francisco Espaillat Quiñones on March 16, 1864. Time passed and the Restoration movement lost vigor. Lack of action on numerous frontlines caused a lack of discipline in the commanding officers supported by supply shortages. Soldiers became relaxed in the conflict. The country was suffering and Salcedo's constant campaigns on the war front were not resulting in the desired outcomes. Vice-President Espaillat was able to contribute to the recovery of the national spirit of resistance. On April 17, San Fernando de Monte Cristi was lost and the cause was threatened by a massive attack led by Governor and Captain General José de la Gándara y Navarro. Governor de la Gándara and President Salcedo agreed to discuss a possible cease-fire. Salcedo instructed a commission to accept surrender in exchange for the withdrawal of troops and to bring back Buenaventura Báez back to the presidency.

Pablo Domingo Pujol y Solano, one of President Salcedo's commissioners in the negotiations with de la Gándara in Monte Cristi in mid 1864. Pujol did not hold back his disagreement with Salcedo with how the President was treating the negotiations, setting the general sentiment of the situation. Discontent rose and President Salcedo's prestige suffered immensely. Things worsened when Salcedo issued a decree on August 24, 1864 where the cabinet was dissolved and all power was concentrated in the President, with assistance of a Secretary General. The father of Salcedo's close friend and Restoration commander Federico de Jesús García Cruz, Don Ambrosio García, had been accused with clear evidence of long-standing service to the Spanish in Monte Cristi and charged with high treason. Salcedo, against the advice of his peers, personally intervened by pardoning Don Ambrosio causing more suspicions of weakness and tolerance of their enemies, the Spanish.

The point of returning Buenaventura Báez, who was a Field Marshal in Madrid at the time, was a massive point of disagreement between Salcedo and much of the government. Most of the commission were enemies of Báez viewing him as an anti-nationalist leader remembering the July Revolution they fought against him. President Salcedo in a political meeting publicly declared himself in favor of working to return Báez to the head of the government. These sentiments led to his downfall as his political opponents began to move against him. General Gaspar Polanco, a former supporter of the now deceased Pedro Santana, had been plotting for some time a coup and took advantage of Salcedo's habitual absences to launch his uprising against him. The army and most of the prominent political leaders of the Restoration joined him in this. Polanco gained the Presidency and the order was given to arrest Pepillo Salcedo.

Coronel Manuel González, a native of Juan Gómez, was tasked with the order to arrest Pepillo Salcedo in his home in Botoncillo on October 10, 1864. Following this, plans were drawn to exile him to Haiti with Polanco issuing a decree to complete this order. Gregorio Luperón was charged with maintaining Salcedo's custody and when he reached the border on October 20, the Haitian authorities refused his arrival. From here he was taken to Santiago and transferred to Las Jabillas, Puerto Plata under the custody of General Carlos Medrano to await arrival of an English schooner at the port of Blanco (modern Luperón). In the background, Salcedo's former allies and now enemies such as Juan Antonio Polanco, Pedro Antonio Pimentel, and Benito Monción were determined to capture and execute him though General Luperón's honor protected Salcedo for some time. Juan Pablo Tolentino was stationed in Las Jabillas and commanded one of the battalions of Los Ranchos troops. He was ordered by General Carlos Medrano to take charge of Salcedo and have him killed. Tolentino flatly refused.

In November 1864, Coronel Agustín Peña Masagó was transferred to Las Jabillas where Salcedo was being held. General Medrano relayed the order from President Gaspar Polanco to take the prisoner Salcedo towards Bahía de Blanco and have him shot along the way. Coronel Peña Masagó with Coronel Martín Santos, took Pepillo Salcedo west stopping at the beaches of Maimón and at dusk ordered a detachment of soldiers to prepare a firing squad. Just before the execution was to take place, Pepillo Salcedo remarked "Ah, Gaspar… Gaspar… Sólo así… éste era el Blanco a donde me mandaban". He made no protest or plea for his life a resigned to accepting his fate. It is said that when he saw how shallow the grave they had dug for him was, he broke a stick and measured himself and asked that the hole be dug deeper so that his body would not be dug up by animals. He followed this by handing the stick to one of the officers and asked him to deliver a message to the new President: "Díganle a Gaspar que con esa misma vara lo medirán a él." Tell Gaspar that with this same stick they will measure him.

Pepillo removed his personal belongings and clothes and handed the to one of the soldiers of the firing squad, future president Ulises "Lilís" Heureaux who held the rank of Lieutenant at the time. Pepillo Salcedo requested that they be delivered to his widow, Doña Águeda in Estero Balsa. On November 5, 1864 José Antonio Salcedo Ramírez was executed by firing squad on the beaches of Maimón leaving a legacy of patriotism and distinction.

In April 1865, Eugenio Contreras and Telésforo Hernández, after the fall of Polanco's government to General Pimentel, established a trial for those accused of the murder of Pepillo Salcedo. They sought the death penalty for the former President Gaspar Polanco, as well as other conspirators: Candelario Oquendo, Carlos Medrano, Ulises Francisco Espaillat Quiñones, Pablo Domingo Pujol y Solano, Manuel Rodríguez Objío, Julián Belisario Curiel, Silverio del Monte Espaillat, and Rafael María Leyba. After hearing the arguments of the defense attorney Cristóbal de Moya, prosecutor Hernández reduced his demands to the death penalty for only three of the accused: Generals Gaspar Polanco, Candelario Oquendo, and Carlos Medrano. The presiding council approved this request though the three individuals never received a sentence directly from the court. Polanco escaped from prison, Medrando's sentence was commuted, and Oquendo fled to his home country of Venezuela.

Doña Águeda Rodríguez y Pimentel was involved in the conspiracy and insurrection of August 16, 1863. While her husband, Pepillo Salcedo, was imprisoned in Santiago, accused of murder, she traveled across the Haitian border to Cap-Haïtien as a liaison between insurrection forces operating covertly in Haitian territory and organizing new attacks. She would travel preferably by night with the assistance of Coronel José Cabrera's guerrillas along intricate and lost paths only expert travelers knew of. She assisted in carrying arms, munitions, supplies, and important messages to needed areas of the war. After his arrest in October 1864 and plans were drawn to exile him to Haiti, Doña Águeda diligently accompanied him to Dajabón. When the Haitian authorities at the border refused to accept her husband, Pepillo Salcedo was taken back to Santiago and from there Las Jabillas, Puerto Plata. Hours before  his execution, she arrived ay Las Jabillas too late to see him for a final time.

She was noted to have an extreme prejudice from her class status and the perception of herself as a rich and powerful lady. According to José Gabriel García, she was described as having little foresight and a very violent temper. She advised her husband to resist the rebellion against him with arms and reproached him for having trusted the men who were actively displaying rebellious action. She held the point of view that many of the men who were conspiring against him were socially below them as day laborers and wage earners who would work for them as wealthy landowners, a high class position and employers.

Following her husband's execution, Doña Águeda had his remains exhumed and taken to Guayubín and then to the church in Monte Cristi in 1865. On June 11, 1867, Doña Águeda delivered the bones of her husband to Pbro. Pedro Maria de Mena y Portes to be laid to rest in Puerto Plata. In 1874, the Governor of Puerto Plata General Wenceslao Álvarez had the remains transferred to the Fortaleza San Felipe where Mayor Miguel Cocco erected a plaque. In 1928, the Sociedad Amantes de la Luz of Santiago had the remains transferred to the church of Santiago de los Caballeros, the city where Salcedo had acted as President of the country. The current resting place has been within the National Pantheon in Santo Domingo since 1988.