Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon I, was emperor of France from 1852 to 1870. Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a military leader who worked with Toussaint L'Ouverture and gave the country of Haiti its name. former Haitian slave who led the only successful slave revolt in modern history By the time he was 20, he could speak three languages—French, Creole, and Latin. Napoleon confirmed Toussaint’s position as colonial governor and promised not to reinstate slavery. The exact details about his childhood are not known though it is generally believed that Gaou Guinou, a younger son of the King of Allada, was his father, and his second wife, Pauline, his mother. By June, 1802, the end was near. Maximilien de Robespierre was an official during the French Revolution and one of the principal architects of the Reign of Terror. Seeking an opportunity to harass the French, the British sent troops to put down the slave revolt. With time he got married and raised a family, and settled into a comfortable life. We strive for accuracy and fairness. In a series of victories, Dessalines’ coalition of blacks and mulattos were successful in forcing the French to surrender and leave the island. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/toussaint-louverture-5671.php, Top NBA Players With No Championship Rings, The Top 25 Wrestling Announcers Of All Time, Famous Role Models You Would Like To Meet. Thus he organized an army of his own and trained his followers in the tactics of guerilla warfare. He was a very tactful, courageous and idealistic general who converted a society of slaves into an independent state of which he became the governor. Napoleon also forbade Toussaint from invading Santo Domingo, the eastern half of the island, where he had French authorities, trying to restore order after the Spanish departure. It is believed his father was Gaou Guinou, the younger son of the king of Allada, a West African kingdom. Soon a major slave rebellion began and Toussaint emerged as the leader of this movement. Winning the favour of the plantation manager, he became … L’Ouverture is believed to have been born on May 20, 1743, in Saint-Domingue, a Caribbean Island, which was colonized and ruled by the French. he was born on May 20, 1743 in Saint-Domingue, Haiti. Biography Haitian war hero who was simply the leader from the Haitian Trend. Toussaint’s early life is not well documented but he is believed to have been born May 20, 1743, to Gaou Guinou, son of the king of Allada, a West African kingdom, his family was sold into slavery and sent to the Caribbean. In 1794 France granted freedom and citizenship to all blacks in the Empire. Most histories say Toussaint’s father was Gaou Guinou, who was a son of King Arrada. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. These 41 pictures were exhibited at the Baltimore Museum of Art during 1937-38. Allada (also spelled as Arrada) was a West African ancient kingdom located in modern-day Benin. Toussaint first secured safety of his wife and family in the Spanish-controlled eastern half of the island, away from the rebellion. Many wanted them back. He acquired near absolute powers and there was no provision for a French official in his territory. Hoping to bring some stability back to Hispaniola, he set out to reestablish agriculture and improve the economic conditions. He rose to prominence in part by taking advantage of wars between the powerful countries that occupied his homeland. The first records of his life were from his son, Isaac Louverture. Toussaint was able to put up strong resistance for … After that, Louverture married, had children, and even eventually owned land and slaves. Toussaint’s early life is not well documented but he is believed to have been born May 20, 1743, to Gaou... Death. Standing steadfastly, he fought to end slavery and gain Haiti’s independence from European powers, France and Spain. Toussaint Louverture is the 51st most popular social activist (up from 53rd in 2019), the 2nd most popular biography from Haiti and the most popular Haitian Social Activist. In 1799, Toussaint was able to defeat the mulatto army with the help of Dessalines. He died on 7 April 1803. After a few weeks of violent fighting and considerable bloodshed, the black army began to weaken and several of the chief black leaders sided with Leclerc. Admired by the former slaves, whom he’d help free, he was also well respected by the many French authorities who technically still controlled Saint-Domingue. Toussaint now showed that his political instincts were on a par with his military abilities. His father, Gaou Guinou wa… At first, François Toussaint was uncommitted. A free man himself, he helped his former master and his wife escape. Under his rule all the blacks were freed, and he gave prominence to the maintenance of law and order, and encouraged trade and commerce. Age, Birthday & Zodiac. He was deeply influenced by the writings of the French philosophers who wrote of individual rights and equality. Nelson Mandela was the first Black president of South Africa, elected after time in prison for his anti-apartheid work. He was the eldest of the several children of Gaou Guinou and his second wife, Pauline. Unfortunately, since then things have not gone well for Haiti. He acquired through Jesuit contacts some knowledge of French, though he wrote and spoke it poorly, usually employing Haitian Creole and African tribal language. Toussaint was fortunate to be owned by enlightened masters who allowed him to learn to read and write. Fearing defeat, the French National Convention acted to preserve its colonial rule and secure the loyalty of the black population. Finally Toussaint agreed to lay down his arms in exchange for Leclerc’s promise not to restore slavery. He grew up … But the British troops remained determined to wreak havoc on France’s tenuous hold on Saint-Domingue. During his time in slavery, Toussaint had learned African and Creole herbal-medical techniques. Toussaint joined Georges Biassou’s rebels who had allied with the Spanish against France. King Arrada, also called Great Arrada, was the king of what is now Benin. Toussaint Louverture is part of G.I. He was born on 20 May 1743 in Saint-Dominigue. However, in the late 1700s the slaves revolted under the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture. De Breda freed Louverture around 1777. Following France’s decision to emancipate the slaves, Toussaint reversed his allegiance and joined forces with the French against Spain. Under the pretense of discussing peace, French General Jean-Baptiste Brunet sent a letter to Toussaint inviting him to his quarters. He professed himself a Frenchman in order to convince Napoleon Bonaparte of his loyalty. Childhood Toussaint Louverture was born in 1740s. The Haitian Revolution is the only successful slave revolt in modern history—at a time when most of the slave revolts ended in executions and failure, he led a revolution that culminated in the establishment of an independent state. His military function led to a whole culture of slaved in to the condition of Haiti. He even drafted a constitution in which he abolished slavery and appointed himself the governor. Toussaint Louverture or L'Ouverture, François Dominique fräNswä´ dômēnēk´ to͞osăN´ lo͞ovĕrtür´ , c.1744–1803, Haitian patriot and martyr. Though he didn’t live to see it, Toussaint’s actions set in motion a series of global events that changed the geography of the western hemisphere and spelled the beginning of the end for European colonial domination in the Americas. Born May 20, 1743, François Toussaint's early life is not well documented. Toussaint Louverture Early Life Born May 20, 1743, François Toussaint early life is not well documented. Even though Bonaparte confirmed Toussaint’s position, he saw him as a hindrance to the restoration of Saint-Dominigue as a profitable colony. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. His family was sold into slavery and sent to the Caribbean. Also Known As: François-Dominique Toussaint, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Toussaint Bréda, Napoléon Noir, Black Spartacus Born: May 20, 1743 on the Breda plantation near Cap-Français, Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) Father: Hippolyte, or Gaou Guinou Died: April 7, 1803 at Fort-de-Joux, France But the rebellion began to expand and eventually it migrated to where Toussaint was living. He was deeply concerned about preserving the free society he had so painstakingly built. Toussaint's horoscope is Taurus according to his birth date. He now served as a doctor to the troops as well as a soldier. Having temporarily secured peace with the European powers, Toussaint turned to the domestic unrest still festering on the island. He was now fighting his former black colleagues, who were still loyal to Spain. The Biography was first published in London, ten years since, as "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Negro Patriot of Hayti: By the Rev. Toussaint Louverture is most famous for being the leader of the Haitian Revolution and freeing Haiti from French rule. The couple had three children: Placide, Isaac and Saint-Jean. Toussaint may have been involved in the planning of the Boukman Rebellion of 1791, but what is certain is that he joined the army officially very shortly after the initial revolt. Born May 20, 1743, François Toussaint's early life is not well documented. A self-educated slave freed shortly before the uprising in 1791, he joined the black rebellion to liberate the slaves and became its organizational genius. His forces were well-organized and steadily grew to 4,000 men. Inspired by the French Revolution, and angered by generations of abuse, slaves began slaughtering whites with impunity. The British government was concerned that the slave revolt would spread to their neighboring colony of Jamaica. Toussaint married Suzanne Simone Baptiste Louvertureand had two children with her. He eventually secured freedom from his owner though he continued working for him out of his own accord. The colony became wealthy during this time. Though not much information is available about all his children, it is known for sure that he had three legitimate children: Placide, Isaac, and Saint-Jean. Although he was born into slavery, Toussaint Louverture became a great military commander and a leader of the struggle for Haitian independence. The temptation to have complete control over the entire island was too tempting for Toussaint. Toussaint Louverture is old. Toussaint L’Ouverture Biography, Quotes, Facts, Wife, Children, Family Biography. Toussaint was the eldest among their several children. Under intense interrogation, he died of pneumonia and starvation on April 7, 1803. Although he was enslaved, he learned some French and Latin. He was Black, like most of the other enslaved people in Saint-Domingue. According to Louverture’s son, Isaac, a key source of information about his father’s life, however, Louverture was born in the colony in 1746, the grandson of an Arada prince named Gaou-Guinou. He was nearly fifty years-old and married with a family, farming a small plot of land and running a plantation for his former master. He imposed military discipline on the workforce, while at the same established reforms that improved workers’ conditions. Also Known As: Toussaint L'Ouverture, Toussaint Bréda, Born in: Saint-Dominigue (present day Haiti), Famous as: Leader of the Haitian Revolution, See the events in life of Toussaint Louverture in Chronological Order. But after a sickly childhood, Toussaint became an athletic young man and a brilliant horseman; as an adult he was considered the best in the colony, routinely outrunning his escorts in … He introduced a constitution, which reiterated the abolition of slavery and declared himself Governor-General for Life, with nearly absolute powers. Soon after, Jean-Jacques Dessalines switched sides again and commanded rebel forces against the French. Toussaint was the eldest among their several children. He was careful not to declare full independence and professed himself a Frenchman to convince Napoleon of his loyalty. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, an escaped slave, joined Toussaint and quickly became a close confident and able lieutenant. By 1801 he was ruling Saint-Dominigue as an independent state although it was still officially under French rule. Little is known for sure about Toussaint Louverture’s early life, because sources disagree. He also developed a deep devotion to the teachings of Catholicism. Following this, Toussaint joined the French in their war against Spain in 1794. His death is believed to have been caused by malnutrition, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Though the mulattoes, led by Gen. Rigaud, had cooperated with the blacks against the British, many of the mulattoes really wished to reimpose sla… Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo led his country to achieve independence after fighting off both the Spanish and the Americans. He also secured the safety of his wife and children before he too decided to get involved in the revolt. While the Caribbean islands boiled with rebellion, European powers were fighting to gain advantage. TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE: A BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY JAMES REDPATH Full view - 1863. He then saw to it that his former master’s family was on a boat bound for the United States. Indira Gandhi was India's third prime minister, serving from 1966 until 1984, when her life ended in assassination. In January 1801, his armies invaded Santo Domingo and took control with little effort. He became free in 1777. Recognized by his master for his abilities, he quickly rose to become the plantation’s chief steward. As a young man he supervised the work of other slaves on the large farm where he lived. There are many conflicting accounts regarding the early life of the Haitian general. Most sources tell us that Toussaint Louverture was born on the plantation … He received some education from his godfather and Jesuit missionaries early in his existence. Toussaint L’Ouverture was a former slave who rose to become the leader of the only successful slave revolt in modern history known as the Haitian Revolution. It had the following--PREFACE. In 1793 Toussaint issues a really wonderful, proud, powerful proclamation where he calls himself “L’ouverture”… Literally meaning “an opening”… An opening, exactly. Toussaint was now the de facto ruler of the entire island of Hispaniola. He had also acquired some knowledge about medicinal plants and herbs. The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, 1936–38, was the artist’s first narrative series and predates such other well-known early series as The Life of Frederick Douglass, 1939; The Life of Harriet Tubman, 1940 (both Hampton University Museum); and The Migration Series, 1941 (MoMA and The Phillips Collection). At age 33, Toussaint was given his freedom. He realized that some of the rebel leaders were willing to compromise with the European radicals, a point of view that he did not share. Realizing that its rule was being threatened, the French National Convention granted citizenship rights and freedom to all blacks within the empire in a bid to secure the loyalty of the black population. Toussaint’s actions also inspired revolutions in several Latin American countries over the next 100 years and American abolitionists to fight for an end to slavery. He instituted French law, abolished slavery, and set out to modernize the country. Fortunately Toussaint had a liberal master who let him read and write. Yasser Arafat was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1969 until his death in 2004, a tumultuous period in which clashes with neighboring Israel were prevalent. Toussaint had an idea that Bonaparte would try to reinstitute slavery in the territory and thus organized a huge army in preparation for war should the French try to snatch away his control. Under his leadership, Toussaint’s troops were able to capture Santa Domingo. Toussaint L'Ouverture (1743-1803) won international renown in the Haitian fight for independence. He became an avid reader and read whatever books he could lay his hands on. Toussaint established trade agreements with the British and the Americans, who supplied his forces with arms and goods in exchange for sugar and the promise not to invade Jamaica or the American South. Defying French Revolutionary laws, he allowed plantation owners, who had fled during the rebellion, to return. Toussaint continued to work for his former owner and married Suzanne Simone Baptiste in 1782. His father is believed to be Gaou Guinou, a younger son of the King of Allada. Toussaint was the son of an educated slave. By 1796, Toussaint was the leading political and military figure in the colonies. It was during this time that Toussaint adopted the surname Louverture, from the French word for “opening” or “opening the way.’. His mother was Gaou Guinou’s second wife. The contest lasted a year with claims of atrocities committed by Dessalines’ army. On August 22, 1791, slaves rebelled in the French colony of Saint-Domingue on the western half of Hispaniola. His first mission was to attack Spanish-controlled Santa Domingo on the eastern side of the island. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Poet William Wordsworth wrote a sonnet about him called To Toussaint L’Ouverture in 1803. https://www.biography.com/political-figure/toussaint-louverture. He issued a new constitution that declared all French colonies would be ruled under special laws. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! The exact details about his childhood are not known though it is generally believed that Gaou Guinou, a younger son of the King of Allada, was his father, and his second wife, Pauline, his mother. It is said that he was given his freedom in 1776, the same year the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. He had fathered several children with different women in his youth, many of who predeceased him. Prior to 1791, the mulatto population, who were not enslaved, had owned slaves themselves. By 1796 Toussaint was the dominant figure in the colony. Toussiant contained the remaining British troops, rendering them ineffective and soon they too withdrew from the island. Even though he was born as a slave, his father had once been a free man who had been captured and sold into slavery. Toussaint Louverture was born a slave, and he served a humane master named Count de Breda, a sugar manufacturer. Inspired by the French Revolution that called for radical social and political reforms in France, the colored people in Saint-Dominigue (present day Haiti) also decided to revolt for their right to freedom and dignity. There Toussaint was arrested and sent to Fort-de-Joux in the Jura Mountains of France. He was born as a slave child, but his father was once a free man. An intelligent and hardworking young man, he also acquired knowledge about medicinal plants and was a talented horseman. Just as Toussaint had feared, Napoleon dispatched his brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc along with a huge army to capture him. Toussaint owned at least one slave himself, and would later give him his freedom. His family was sold into slavery and sent to the Caribbean. Most Europeans and mulattos living on the island sided with the French. Frustrated by a rebellion he couldn’t control in Hispaniola, Napoleon Bonaparte decided not to expand his empire into North America and sold the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803. He led the French in ousting the British and then in capturing the Spanish controlled portion of the island. He was born on 20 May 1743 in Saint-Dominigue. Hero to his victorious soldiers and to all former slaves, he was respected as well by the resident French authorities. He was also given religious instruction and became a Catholic. His decision to join the rebellion wasn’t only driven by the desire to defend his way of life. Toussaint quickly developed a reputation and was given command of 600 black former slaves. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a Mexican Catholic priest who called for a revolution against the Spanish on September 16, 1810. Toussaint was also deeply influenced by his Catholic religion, which condemned slavery, and Enlightenment philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote of the equality of man. Toussaint L'Ouverture was a leader of the Haitian independence movement during the French Revolution. Life and times. Toussaint L'Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography Boston: James Redpath, 1863. He read the classics and the Enlightenment political philosophers, who were his greatest influencers. Jacob Lawrence’s initial work was a series of paintings of Toussaint L’Ouverture, Haitian general who led the Haitian Revolution. Toussaint L'Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography John Relly Beard Snippet view - 1971. He helped create Haiti’s first constitution, which was interesting for the following reasons: He was … Born into slavery on May 20, 1743 in the French colony of Saint Dominque, L’Ouverture was the eldest son of Gaou Guinon, an African prince who was captured by slavers. Toussaint was fortunate to be bought by enlightened masters who allowed him to learn to read and write. Born into slavery at an era where the harsh treatment meted out to blacks was legal, he was fortunate enough to have white masters who treated him kindly and allowed him to gain an education.