Haitian Leader. Born a slave on Plantation Bréda near Cap-Français (present day Cap-Haitien), Haiti, his intelligence was recognized early on, and he was allowed to educate himself through reading. His duties included livestock handling, coachman, and finally plantation steward before being manumitted in 1776. During a slave revolt in August 1791, he helped his former master escape, then joined the revolting forces and found their tactics wanting. He recruited an army of his own, and trained his followers in guerrilla warfare. In 1793, when France and Spain were at war, he and his men crossed into Santo Domingo (present day Dominican Republic) and joined the Spanish forces against the French. He was knighted and made a general in the Spanish colonial army. In May 1794, however, he went over to the French, stating that the French had recently freed all slaves, while Spain had not, he therefore claimed to have become a republican. He was made lieutenant governor; and after the cessation of hostilities, he allowed many of the European planters to return, while the former slaves were also returned to work on the plantations, working under military discipline, though free men who were to share in the profits. He became governor-general in 1796, and in 1801, counter to first consul of France Bonaparte's wishes, overran Spanish Santo Domingo and freed the slaves. In command of the entire island, he dictated a constitution which named him governor-general for life with near absolute power. Roman Catholicism was decreed the state religion, and he sanctioned many revolutionary principles. He realized, however, the situation would not allow the situation to stand. When the expected invasion at last came in January 1802, the Haitians faced greater numbers than expected; additionally, most of the island's Europeans and mulattoes defected. By May, he formally agreed to capitulate in exchange for a promise not to restore slavery on the island, and retired to a plantation. In June, however, he was invited to a parley, and under orders from Napoleon, he was seized, and sent to Fort-de-Joux, France where he was confined under harsh conditions, which eventually led to his death some ten months later.