Toussaint Louverture Toussaint Louverture (1743–1803) was a key leader of the Haitian Revolution, which led to the first successful slave uprising in the Americas and the establishment of Haiti as an independent nation in 1804. Born into slavery in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), he gained his freedom and became a skilled military strategist and diplomat.

During the revolution, Louverture led enslaved people and free Black forces against French, Spanish, and British troops, successfully securing the abolition of slavery in the colony. He later aligned with France and became the de facto governor of Saint-Domingue, implementing reforms to rebuild the economy and maintain order. However, when Napoleon Bonaparte sought to reimpose slavery, Louverture resisted. He was eventually captured by French forces in 1802 and deported to France, where he died in prison in 1803.

Though he did not live to see Haiti's full independence, his leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping the first Black republic and inspiring future anti-colonial movements worldwide.