Happy Birthday Toussaint Louverture

“I was born a slave, but nature gave me a soul of a free man” - Toussaint Louverture

(Toussaint Louverture)

Toussaint Louverture was born on May 20th, 1743 in  Haut de Cap, Haiti. He was born into slavery. He was also well educated. In 1776 Louverture was freed from his slave masters. As a free man, Louverture began to accumulate wealth and property. In 1782 Louverture married  Suzanne Simone Baptiste Louverture. In 1792 Louverture became the leader of the Haitian revolution. He gained a reputation for running an orderly camp, trained his men in guerrilla tactics and "the European style of war", and began to attract soldiers who would play an important role throughout the revolution. In 1793 was the first time he publicly used the moniker "Louverture". On February 4th, 1794, the French revolutionary government proclaimed the abolition of slavery in Haiti. In May 1794, when the decision of the French government became known in Saint Domingue, Louverture switched allegiance from the Spanish to the French and rallied his troops to Lavaux.

(A drawing of Louverture)

In the first weeks, he eradicated all Spanish supporters from the Cordon de l'Ouest, which he had held on their behalf. Louverture faced attack from multiple sides. His former colleagues in the black rebellion were now fighting against him for the Spanish. By now his officers included men who were important throughout the revolution: his brother Paul, his nephew Moïse, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe. In 1795 the Treaty of Basel stopped the fighting between the French and Spanish on the island of Hispaniola. The black leaders, Jean-François and Biassou, continued to fight against Louverture until November of 1795. Throughout 1795 and 1796, Louverture was concerned with reestablishing agriculture and keeping the peace in areas under his control. On March 20th, 1796, he succeeded in capturing the French Governor Lavaux, and appointed himself Governor.

(A drawing of Louverture in battle)

Louverture wanted White planters to return to Haiti because he believed they were bearers of useful skills and knowledge. On April 30th, 1798, Louverture signed a treaty with the British general, Thomas Maitland, exchanging the withdrawal of British troops from western Saint Domingue. In 1799 a civil war between Louverture and Andre Rigaud began and ended in 1800 with Louverture winning the war.  In January of 1801, Louverture and Hyacinthe Moïse invaded the Spanish territory, taking possession from the Governor, Don Garcia. Toussaint brought it under French law which abolished slavery, and embarked on a program of modernization. Louverture promulgated the Constitution on July 7th, 1801, officially establishing his authority over the entire island of Hispaniola.

(A drawing of Louverture with the Constitution)

After sending a copy of the new constitution to France, Napoleon sent 20,000 troops to the island to restore French control and slavery. Louverture prepared for the invasion. After several months of fighting the French felt their position was weak. Louverture was arrested by the French and on on 25 August, Toussaint Louverture was sent to the jail in Fort-de-Joux in the Doubs, France. On April 7th, 1803 Louverture died of exhaustion, malnutrition, apoplexy, pneumonia and possibly tuberculosis while in prison in France. He was 59 years old.

(A statue of Louverture)

Today is his 274th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Toussaint Louverture.