Duarte was born on 26 January 1813 in Santo Domingo’s  Colonial Zone.

The Dominican Republic gained independence from Span in 1821 but had quickly come under Haitian control. In July 1838, Duarte and others established a secret nationalist society called ‘La Trinitaria’. ‘La Trinitaria’ was a driving force in undermining Haitian occupation, leading to the liberation from Haiti in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844.

After gaining independence, Duarte rejected the opportunity to assume the presidency. Pedro Santana became president promising closer ties with Spain to prevent future attacks by Haiti. Santana exiled Duarte to Venezuela, where he died in 1876.

In 1884, his remains were returned to the Dominican Republic where he was given a burial with full honors and entombed in a mausoleum along with other founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.

His birthday is celebrated each year with a special mass at the Santa Bárbara Church in Santo Domingo, the church where he was baptized.

His parental home has been a museum since 1967 and is a popular place to visit on his birthday.