List of heads of state of Haiti

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This page lists the heads of state of Haiti since the beginning of the Haitian Revolution in 1791. Full independence of Haiti was declared in 1804.

Between 1806 and 1820 Haiti was divided between the northern State, later Kingdom of Haiti, and the southern Republic of Haiti.

List of heads of state of Haiti (1791–Present)

# Picture Name Began office Left office Title(s)
Toussaint Louverture 1 January 1791 6 May 1802 Leader of the Haitian Revolution (1 January 1791 – 6 May 1802)
Governor-General for Life of Haiti (7 July 1801 – 6 May 1802)
Note: Governor-General of the entire Island of Hispaniola
Jean-Jacques Dessalines /
Jacques I		 1 January 1804 17 October 1806 Governor-General of Haiti (1 January 1804 – 22 September 1804)
Emperor of Haiti (22 September 1804 – 17 October 1806)
Henri Christophe /
Henri I		 17 October 1806 8 October 1820 Provisional Chief of the Haitian Government (17 October 1806 – 17 February 1807)
President of the State of Haiti (17 February 1807 – 28 March 1811)
King of Haiti (28 March 1811 – 8 October 1820)
Note: Rule limited to the northern Haiti
1 Alexandre Pétion 17 October 1806 29 March 1818 President (17 October 1806 – 9 October 1816)
President for Life (9 October 1816 – 29 March 1818)
Note: Rule limited to the southern Haiti
2 Jean-Pierre Boyer 30 March 1818 13 February 1843 President for Life
Note: Ruled the entire Island of Hispaniola from 1822
3 Charles Rivière-Hérard 4 April 1843 3 May 1844 President
Note: Ruled the entire Island of Hispaniola
4 Philippe Guerrier 3 May 1844 15 April 1845 President
5 Jean-Louis Pierrot 16 April 1845 24 March 1846 President
6 Jean-Baptiste Riché 24 March 1846 28 February 1847 President
7 Faustin Soulouque /
Faustin I		 2 March 1847 22 January 1859 President of Haïti (2 March 1847 – 26 August 1849)
Emperor of Haiti (26 August 1849 – 22 January 1859)
8 Fabre Geffrard 22 January 1859 13 March 1867 President
Nissage Saget 20 March 1867 2 May 1867 Provisional President
9 Sylvain Salnave 4 May 1867 27 December 1869 President
10 Nissage Saget 27 December 1869 14 May 1874 President
Council of Secretaries of State 14 May 1874 14 June 1874 Council of Secretaries of State
11 Michel Domingue 14 June 1874 15 April 1876 President
12 Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal 23 April 1876 17 July 1879 Provisional President (23 April 1876 – 17 July 1876)
President (17 July 1876 – 17 July 1879)
Joseph Lamothe 26 July 1879 2 October 1879 Provisional President
13 Lysius Salomon 2 October 1879 10 August 1888 President
Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal 10 August 1888 16 October 1888 Provisional President
14 François Denys Légitime 16 October 1888 23 August 1889 President
Monpoint Jeune 23 August 1889 17 October 1889 Provisional President
15 Florvil Hyppolite 17 October 1889 24 March 1896 President
16 Tirésias Simon Sam 31 March 1896 12 May 1902 President
Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal 26 May 1902 17 December 1902 Provisional President
17 Pierre Nord Alexis 21 December 1902 2 December 1908 President
18 François C. Antoine Simon 6 December 1908 3 August 1911 President
19 Cincinnatus Leconte 15 August 1911 8 August 1912 President
Note: Great-Grandson of Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Emperor of Haiti 1804–1806)
20 Tancrède Auguste 8 August 1912 2 May 1913 President
21 Michel Oreste 12 May 1913 27 January 1914 President
22 Oreste Zamor 8 February 1914 29 October 1914 President
23 Joseph Davilmar Théodore 7 November 1914 22 February 1915 President
24 Vilbrun Guillaume Sam 25 February 1915 28 July 1915 President
Note: Son of Tirésias Simon Sam (President of Haiti 1896–1902)
25 Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave 12 August 1915 15 May 1922 President
Note: Served under the United States occupation
26 Louis Borno 15 May 1922 15 May 1930 President
Note: Served under the United States occupation
27 Louis Eugène Roy 15 May 1930 18 November 1930 President
Note: Served under the United States occupation
28 Sténio Vincent 18 November 1930 15 May 1941 President
Note: Served under the United States occupation until 1934
29 Élie Lescot 15 May 1941 11 January 1946 President
Franck Lavaud 11 January 1946 16 August 1946 Chairman of the Military Executive Committee
30 Dumarsais Estimé 16 August 1946 10 May 1950 President
Franck Lavaud 10 May 1950 6 December 1950 Chairman of the Government Junta
31 Paul Magloire 6 December 1950 12 December 1956 President
Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis 12 December 1956 3 February 1957 Provisional President
Franck Sylvain 7 February 1957 2 April 1957 Provisional President
Executive Government Council 2 April 1957 25 May 1957 Executive Government Council
Daniel Fignolé 25 May 1957 14 June 1957 Provisional President
Antonio Thrasybule Kébreau 14 June 1957 22 October 1957 Chairman of the Military Council
32 François Duvalier 22 October 1957 21 April 1971 President (22 October 1957 – 22 June 1964)
President for Life (22 June 1964 – 21 April 1971)
33 Jean-Claude Duvalier 21 April 1971 7 February 1986 President for Life
34 Henri Namphy 7 February 1986 7 February 1988 President
35 Leslie Manigat 7 February 1988 20 June 1988 President
36 Henri Namphy 20 June 1988 17 September 1988 President
37 Prosper Avril 17 September 1988 10 March 1990 President
Hérard Abraham 10 March 1990 13 March 1990 Acting President
Ertha Pascal-Trouillot 13 March 1990 7 February 1991 Acting President
38 Jean-Bertrand Aristide 7 February 1991 30 September 1991 President
Raoul Cédras 30 September 1991 8 October 1991 Acting President
Note: Leader of the Military Junta 1991 until 12 October 1994
Joseph Nérette 8 October 1991 19 June 1992 Provisional President
Marc Bazin 19 June 1992 15 June 1993 Acting President
39 Jean-Bertrand Aristide 15 June 1993 12 May 1994 President
Note: In exile, but recognized in Haiti
Émile Jonassaint 12 May 1994 12 October 1994 Provisional President
40 Jean-Bertrand Aristide 12 October 1994 7 February 1996 President
41 René Préval 7 February 1996 7 February 2001 President
42 Jean-Bertrand Aristide 7 February 2001 29 February 2004 President
Boniface Alexandre 29 February 2004 14 May 2006 Provisional President
43 René Préval 14 May 2006 14 May 2011 President
44 Michel Martelly 14 May 2011 Incumbent President

See also