On this day in 1803 Toussaint Louverture died in a French prison. He was thousands of kilometers away from the island of Saint-Domingue where Haitian revolutionaries were close to defeating the French army that tried to restore order in their colony. Louverture had played a key role in this revolution that would eventually lead to the independence of Haiti in 1804.

Toussaint Louverture was born into slavery in 1743 on the Breda plantation. He gained freedom in his thirties and kept working on the plantation. When news of the French Revolution and its ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity made its way to the island, a major slave rebellion started. Louverture joined the revolt and became one of its leaders.

For more than a decade Louverture proved himself as a great diplomat, politician and general as he gained more power and influence. He transformed the rebellion into a well organized revolutionary movement and became governor for life in 1801 after adopting a new constitution.

This was all against Napoleon's wishes who had seized power in France by now. He sent an army to restore order and (most likely) slavery. Louverture was invited to negotiate peace, but arrested instead upon arrival and deported to France.

Louverture is known nowadays as the father of Haiti and an inspiration to many. Unfortunately, his story and the Haitian revolution are often missing in history textbooks. In my opinion it would fit perfectly in units discussing the French revolution, enlightenment thought, the transatlantic slave trade and the abolition movement. 

Originally posted on Instagram on April 7, 2021