A list of former Haitian heads of state

By Bob Corbett (bcorbett@crl.com)

President Aristide is headed back to Haiti in a couple of days. I thought some of you might want to look over the history of heads of state of Haiti which this list overviews. It's a rough place to be head of state!

I've included skin color of the president, since that has been a major point of contention over the history of Haiti as blacks have struggled with mulattos for control. This data is mainly taken from Lyonel Paquin's book, CLASS AND COLOR POLITICS IN HAITI.

Bob Corbett
Webster University
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994

1. Dessalines, Jean Jacques
   • 1804-06 (2)
   • Black
   • assassinated
2. Christophe, Henri
   • 1807-20 (13)
   • Black
   • suicide
3. Petion, Alexander
   • 1807-18 (11)
   • Light
   • died in office
4. Boyer, Jean Pierre
   • 1818-43 (25)
   • Light
   • overthrown
5. Riviere-Herard, Riviere
   • 1843-44 (1)
   • Light
   • overthrown
6. Guerrier, Philippe
   • 1844-45 (1)
   • Black
   • died in office
7. Pierrot, Jean Louis
   • 1845-46 (1)
   • Black
   • overthrown
8. Riche, Jean Baptiste
   • 1847-47 (1)
   • Black
   • died in office
9. Soulouque, Faustin
   • 1847-59 (12)
   • Black
   • overthrown
10. Geffrard, Fabre Nicholas
    • 1959-67 (8)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
11. Salnave, Sylvain
    • 1867-69 (2)
    • Dark
    • executed
12. Nissage-Saget
    • 1870-74 (4)
    • Light
    • full term
13. Domingue, Michel
    • 1874-76 (2)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
14. Boisrond-Canal
    • 1876-79 (3)
    • Light
    • overthrown
15. Salomon, Lysius Felicite
    • 1879-88 (9)
    • Black
    • overthrown
16. Legitime, Francois
    • 1888-89 (2)
    • Black
    • overthrown
17. Hyppolite, Florvil
    • 1889-96 (7)
    • Black
    • died in office
18. Simon Sam, Tiresias
    • 1896-02 (6)
    • Black
    • full term
19. Nord, Alexis
    • 1902-08 (6)
    • Black
    • overthrown
20. Simon, Antoine
    • 1908-11 (3)
    • Black
    • overthrown
21. Leconte, Cincinnatus
    • 1911-12 (2)
    • Dark
    • died in office
22. Auguste, Tancrede
    • 1912-13 (1)
    • Light
    • died in office
23. Oreste, Michel
    • 1913-14 (1)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
24. Zamor, Oreste
    • 1914 (1)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
25. Theodore, Davilmar
    • 1914-15 (1)
    • Black
    • overthrown
26. Sam, Vilbrun
    • 1915 (1)
    • Black
    • assassinated
27. Dartiguevave, Sudre
    • 1915-22 (7)
    • Light
    • full term (1st US Occupation)
28. Borno, Louis
    • 1922-30 (8)
    • Light
    • full term (1st US Occupation)
29. Roy, Eugene
    • 1930 (1)
    • Dark
    • full term (1st US Occupation)
30. Vincent, Stenio
    • 1930-41 (11)
    • Light
    • full term (1st US Occupation until 1934)
31. Lescot, Elie
    • 1941-46 (4)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
32. Estime, Dumarsais
    • 1946-50 (4)
    • Black
    • overthrown
33. Magloire, Paul
    • 1950-56 (6)
    • Black
    • overthrown
    • (1957--5 transitory gov.)
34. Duvalier, Francois
    • 1957-71 (14)
    • Black
    • died in office
35. Duvalier, Jean-Claude
    • 1971-86 (15)
    • Dark
    • overthrown
36. Namphy, Henri
    • 1986-87 (1)
    • Black
    • full term
37. Manigat, Lesli
    • 1988 (1)
    • Light
    • overthrown
38. Namphy, Henri
    • 1988-89 (1)
    • Black
    • overthrown
39. Avril, Prosper
    • 1989-90 (1)
    • Black
    • overthrown
40. Pascal-Trouillot, Etha
    • 1990-91 (1)
    • Light
    • full term
41. Aristide, Jean-Bertrand
    • 1991-
    • Black