Toussaint Louverture (c. 1743-1803) was a formerly enslaved man who became the leading general and statesman of the Haitian Revolution, the successful slave uprising in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. Rising through the ranks of the rebellion that began in 1791, he built a disciplined army, secured the abolition of slavery in the colony, and by the late 1790s had established himself as the effective ruler of the territory, promulgating a constitution while nominally remaining under French sovereignty. In 1802 he was captured by French forces sent by Napoleon Bonaparte to restore slavery and colonial control, and died in a French prison the following year, months before his former lieutenants completed the revolution and declared Haitian independence.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.