Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal

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.