Birth and early life
Gilbert’s parents were Narcisa Suero, a Dominican woman, and Benjamin Gilbert, a The Bahamas, Bahamian immigrant. Through his maternal side, he is related to Juan Suero (nicknamed the "Black Cid"), a prominent fighter who fought in the Dominican War of Independence, Independence and Dominican Restoration War, Restoration wars during the mid-1800s. He became orphan at a young age and his eldest siblings raised him. In 1916, Gilbert settled in San Pedro de Macorís where he worked as a Linotype machine, linotypist, and as a salesclerk in a grocery store.Fight against the United States
On January 10, 1917, United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–24), U. S. marines were invading the port city, and Gilbert decided to fight against them, he charged a revolver and shot against the marines, killing officer C. H. Burton in the firefight. He joined the Guerrilla warfare, guerrilla against the United States occupation; he was captured and Capital punishment, sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, but he was released on October 22, 1922; Gilbert went to the exile in Cuba, Curaçao, and Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, he joined Augusto César Sandino, Sandino’s rebellion against the United States occupation of Nicaragua, United States occupation of that country. In 1929, he returned to the Dominican Republic.Final years and death
Gilbert was also part of the Dominican Civil War, 1965 April Revolution and fight against the second United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1965–66). In 1970, Gilbert wrote his memoir and died shortly afterwards.Legacy
A Gregorio Urbano Gilbert metro station, metro station in Santo Domingo is named in honor of Gilbert.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Gregorio Urbano 1898 births 1970 deaths Dominican Republic people of Bahamian descent African diaspora in the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic revolutionaries People of the Dominican Civil War (1965) Dominican Republic expatriates in Cuba Dominican Republic expatriates in Curaçao Dominican Republic expatriates in Nicaragua People from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic People of the Banana Wars