Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
Encyclopedia
Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (Les Cayes
, June 12, 1832 - Port-au-Prince
, March 6, 1905) was a Haitian politician who served as the President of Haiti
three times.
Boisrond-Canal was born June 12, 1832 in the town of Les Cayes
, Haiti. He began a military career. He was an officer from 1858 to 1867, during the administration of Fabre Geffrard
. He then retired from military service and became a farmer.
His political career began in 1870 when he was elected senator in Port-au-Prince
. He was again re-elected until 1875. After the riots of May 1875, he went into exile in Kingston
, Jamaica
for a few weeks. On his return he was appointed commander of the army in the Ouest Department
by President Michel Domingue
. On April 23, 1876, he replaced Michel Domingue as the first president of the provisional government, before becoming President of Haiti non-provisionally on July 17, 1876. The 1867 Constitution gave him a mandate of four years. During Boisrond-Canal's administration, tensions in domestic politics and foreign affairs grew, particularly because of the differences between liberal and nationalist parties in Parliament. Following a stormy debate in the House of Representatives on June 30, 1879, there were riots in Port-au-Prince in which the Liberal leader Jean-Pierre Boyer-Bazelais played a significant role. Although the government managed to restore law and order, Boisrond-Canal resigned as president on July 17, 1879, unable to mediate between the Liberal and National parties. The successor to the presidency was Lysius Salomon
. After his resignation, Boisrond-Canal left again in exile in Jamaica.
After Boisrond-Canal's return from exile and Salomon's resignation on August 10, 1888, Boisrond-Canal was again named Acting President of Haiti. He was succeeded as president by Francois Denys-Legitime on October 16, 1888. On May 26, 1902, Boisrond-Canal was appointed successor to Tirésias Simon Sam
as new interim president of Haiti. On December 17, 1902 Pierre Nord Alexis
became his successor.
Boisrond-Canal was one of the most influential politicians of his time in Haiti and significantly influenced Haitian politics even when not serving as president. He died in Port-au-Prince on March 6, 1905.
Boisrond-Canal's younger brother, Louis-Auguste Boisrond-Canal. was an active political figure in 1908 as a member of the Commission for public order and interim president of Haiti.
Les Cayes
Les Cayes , is a town and seaport in southwestern Haiti, with a population of approximately 45,904 people . Estimates from 2008 place the population at close to 70,000 people...
, June 12, 1832 - Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, March 6, 1905) was a Haitian politician who served as the President of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
three times.
Boisrond-Canal was born June 12, 1832 in the town of Les Cayes
Les Cayes
Les Cayes , is a town and seaport in southwestern Haiti, with a population of approximately 45,904 people . Estimates from 2008 place the population at close to 70,000 people...
, Haiti. He began a military career. He was an officer from 1858 to 1867, during the administration of Fabre Geffrard
Fabre Geffrard
Fabre-Nicholas Geffrard was a general in the Haitian army and President of Haiti from 1859 until his deposition in 1867. After collaborating in a coup to remove Faustin Soulouque from power in order to return Haiti back to social and political control of the colored elite, Geffrard was made...
. He then retired from military service and became a farmer.
His political career began in 1870 when he was elected senator in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
. He was again re-elected until 1875. After the riots of May 1875, he went into exile in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
for a few weeks. On his return he was appointed commander of the army in the Ouest Department
Ouest Department
Ouest is one of the ten departments of Haiti. It is the jurisdictional seat of the national capital, the city of Port-au-Prince. It has an area of and a population of 3,093,698 . It borders the Dominican Republic to the east.It is the second largest department in Haiti after the Artibonite...
by President Michel Domingue
Michel Domingue
Michel Domingue was the leader of Haiti from June 14, 1874 to April 15, 1876.Michel Domingue was born in Les Cayes, Haiti in 1813. He graduated from military training and became commander of army units in the Sud Department....
. On April 23, 1876, he replaced Michel Domingue as the first president of the provisional government, before becoming President of Haiti non-provisionally on July 17, 1876. The 1867 Constitution gave him a mandate of four years. During Boisrond-Canal's administration, tensions in domestic politics and foreign affairs grew, particularly because of the differences between liberal and nationalist parties in Parliament. Following a stormy debate in the House of Representatives on June 30, 1879, there were riots in Port-au-Prince in which the Liberal leader Jean-Pierre Boyer-Bazelais played a significant role. Although the government managed to restore law and order, Boisrond-Canal resigned as president on July 17, 1879, unable to mediate between the Liberal and National parties. The successor to the presidency was Lysius Salomon
Lysius Salomon
Lysius Salomon was the President of Haiti from . Salomon is best remembered for instituting Haiti's first postal system, and his lively enthusiasm to modernize the country.....
. After his resignation, Boisrond-Canal left again in exile in Jamaica.
After Boisrond-Canal's return from exile and Salomon's resignation on August 10, 1888, Boisrond-Canal was again named Acting President of Haiti. He was succeeded as president by Francois Denys-Legitime on October 16, 1888. On May 26, 1902, Boisrond-Canal was appointed successor to Tirésias Simon Sam
Tirésias Simon Sam
Tirésias Antoine Auguste Simon Sam was the President of Haiti from 31 March 1896 to 12 May 1902. He resigned the presidency just before completing his six-year term. A likeness of Simon Sam has been featured on several Haitian postage stamps...
as new interim president of Haiti. On December 17, 1902 Pierre Nord Alexis
Pierre Nord Alexis
Pierre Nord Alexis was President of Haiti from December 21, 1902 to December 2, 1908. He was son of Nord Alexis, a high-ranking official in the regime of Henry Christophe, and Blézine Georges, Christophe's illegitimate daughter. Alexis joined the army in the 1830s, serving President Jean-Louis...
became his successor.
Boisrond-Canal was one of the most influential politicians of his time in Haiti and significantly influenced Haitian politics even when not serving as president. He died in Port-au-Prince on March 6, 1905.
Boisrond-Canal's younger brother, Louis-Auguste Boisrond-Canal. was an active political figure in 1908 as a member of the Commission for public order and interim president of Haiti.