Toussaint Louverture

Died

7 April 1803

Born into slavery on the Bréda plantation near Cap-Français and freed in the 1770s, Toussaint Louverture worked as an estate overseer and himself rented land and slaves before the insurrection of August 1791, which he joined as a subordinate commander. He served the Spanish crown until 1794, when he brought his troops over to the Republic after the Convention abolished slavery, and rose to be lieutenant-governor and then commander-in-chief in Saint-Domingue. He expelled in turn the commissioners sent from France, defeated Rigaud in the war of the south and occupied the Spanish part of the island. The constitution he promulgated in July 1801 made him governor for life and intensified the breach with Bonaparte. It became one of the justifications for a French expedition whose planning had already begun. Arrested in June 1802 and deported, he died in the fort of Joux in the Jura on 7 April 1803.

Related peopleGenerals & Army

Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet

General Pierre Augereau

Michel de Beaupuy All in this faction →

Articles about

Toussaint Louverture

No articles about this figure yet.

Browse all articles →

In the timeline

1 event

1 Jan 1743Birth of Toussaint Louverture See them in the timeline →