List of heads of state of Haiti

This article lists the heads of state of Haiti^[1] 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, renamed Kingdom in 1811, and the southern Republic. Between 1822 and 1844 the reunified Republic of Haiti ruled over the entire island of Hispaniola, during the Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo.

Saint-Domingue (1791–1804)

	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
		Toussaint Louverture (1743–1803)	1 January 1791	6 May 1802	11 years, 125 days	Independent	Leader of the Haitian Revolution (1 January 1791 – 6 May 1802) Lieutenant Governor of Saint-Domingue (1797 – 7 July 1801) Governor-General for Life of the entire island of Hispaniola (7 July 1801 – 6 May 1802)
Vacant (6 May 1802–1 January 1804)
		Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1758–1806)	1 January 1804	22 September 1804	265 days	Independent	Governor-General of Haiti

First Empire of Haiti (1804–1806)

Monarchy of Jacques I

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal house	Coat of arms
		Reign start	Reign ended	Duration
	Jacques I (1758–1806)	22 September 1804^[a]	17 October 1806	2 years, 25 days	Dessalines

Divided Haiti (1806–1820)

State of Haiti (1806–1811)

	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
		Henri Christophe (1767–1820)	17 October 1806	28 March 1811	4 years, 162 days	Independent	Provisional Chief of the Haitian Government (17 October 1806 – 17 February 1807) President (17 February 1807 – 28 March 1811)^[b]

Kingdom of Haiti (1811–1820)

Monarchy of Henry I

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal house	Coat of arms
		Reign start	Reign ended	Duration
	Henry I (1767–1820)^[b]	28 March 1811^[c]	8 October 1820	9 years, 194 days	Christophe

Republic of Haiti (1806–1820)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Alexandre Pétion (1770–1818)	17 October 1806	29 March 1818	11 years, 163 days	Independent	President (17 October 1806 – 9 October 1816) President for Life (9 October 1816 – 29 March 1818)^[d]
2		Jean-Pierre Boyer (1776–1850)	30 March 1818	18 October 1820	2 years, 202 days	Independent	President for Life^[e]

Republic of Haiti (1820–1849)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
(2)		Jean-Pierre Boyer (1776–1850)	18 October 1820	13 February 1843	22 years, 118 days	Independent	President for Life
3		Charles Rivière-Hérard (1789–1850)	4 April 1843	3 May 1844	1 year, 29 days	Independent	President
4		Philippe Guerrier (1757–1845)	3 May 1844	15 April 1845	347 days	Independent	President
5		Jean-Louis Pierrot (1761–1857)	16 April 1845	24 March 1846	342 days	Independent	President
6		Jean-Baptiste Riché (1780–1847)	24 March 1846	28 February 1847	341 days	Independent	President
7		Faustin Soulouque (1782–1867)	2 March 1847	26 August 1849	2 years, 177 days	Independent	President

Second Empire of Haiti (1849–1859)

Monarchy of Faustin I

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal house	Coat of arms
		Reign start	Reign ended	Duration
	Faustin I (1782–1867)	26 August 1849^[f]	22 January 1859	9 years, 149 days	Soulouque

Republic of Haiti (1859–1957)

Status

•   Acting President

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
8		Fabre Geffrard (1806–1878)	—	22 January 1859	13 March 1867	8 years, 50 days	Independent	President
—		Jean-Nicolas Nissage Saget (1810–1880)	—	20 March 1867	2 May 1867	43 days	Independent	Provisional President
9		Sylvain Salnave (1827–1870)	—	4 May 1867	27 December 1869	2 years, 237 days	Independent	President
10		Jean-Nicolas Nissage Saget (1810–1880)	—	27 December 1869	14 May 1874	4 years, 138 days	Liberal Party	President
—		Council of Secretaries of State	—	14 May 1874	14 June 1874	31 days	Independent	Council of Secretaries of State
11		Michel Domingue (1813–1877)	—	14 June 1874	15 April 1876	1 year, 306 days	Independent	President
12		Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (1832–1905)	—	23 April 1876	17 July 1879	3 years, 85 days	Liberal Party	Provisional President (23 April 1876 – 17 July 1876) President (17 July 1876 – 17 July 1879)
—		Joseph Lamothe (?–1891)	—	26 July 1879	2 October 1879	68 days	Independent	Provisional President
13		Lysius Salomon (1815–1888)	—	2 October 1879	10 August 1888	8 years, 313 days	National Party	President
—		Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (1832–1905)	—	10 August 1888	16 October 1888	67 days	Liberal Party	Provisional President
14		François Denys Légitime (1841–1935)	—	16 October 1888	23 August 1889	311 days	Liberal Party	President
—		Monpoint Jeune (1830–1905)	—	23 August 1889	17 October 1889	55 days	Independent	Provisional President
15		Florvil Hyppolite (1828–1896)	—	17 October 1889	24 March 1896	6 years, 159 days	National Party	President
16		Tirésias Simon Sam (1835–1916)	—	31 March 1896	12 May 1902	6 years, 42 days	National Party	President
—		Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (1832–1905)	—	26 May 1902	17 December 1902	205 days	Liberal Party	Provisional President
17		Pierre Nord Alexis (1820–1910)	—	21 December 1902	2 December 1908	5 years, 347 days	Military	President
18		François C. Antoine Simon (1843–1923)	—	6 December 1908	3 August 1911^[2]	2 years, 240 days	Liberal Party	President
19		Cincinnatus Leconte (1854–1912)	—	15 August 1911	8 August 1912^[3]	359 days	National Party	President^[g]
20		Tancrède Auguste (1856–1913)	—	8 August 1912	2 May 1913	267 days	National Party	President
21		Michel Oreste (1859–1918)	—	12 May 1913	27 January 1914^[4]	260 days	Independent	President
22		Oreste Zamor (1861–1915)	—	8 February 1914	29 October 1914	263 days	Military	President
23		Joseph Davilmar Théodore (1847–1917)	—	7 November 1914	22 February 1915	107 days	Military	President
24		Vilbrun Guillaume Sam (1859–1915)	—	25 February 1915	28 July 1915	153 days	Military	President^[h]
25		Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave (1863–1926)	—	12 August 1915	15 May 1922	6 years, 276 days	Independent	President^[i]
26		Louis Borno (1865–1942)	—	15 May 1922	15 May 1930	8 years	Independent	President^[i]
27		Louis Eugène Roy (1861–1939)	—	15 May 1930	18 November 1930	187 days	Independent	President^[i]
28		Sténio Vincent (1874–1959)	—	18 November 1930	15 May 1941	10 years, 178 days	Independent	President^[j]
29		Élie Lescot (1883–1974)	—	15 May 1941	11 January 1946	4 years, 241 days	Liberal Party	President
30		Franck Lavaud (1903–1986)	—	11 January 1946	16 August 1946	217 days	Military	Chairman of the Military Executive Committee
31		Dumarsais Estimé (1900–1953)	—	16 August 1946	10 May 1950	3 years, 267 days	Independent	President
(30)		Franck Lavaud (1903–1986)	—	10 May 1950	6 December 1950	210 days	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta
32		Paul Magloire (1907–2001)	1950	6 December 1950	12 December 1956	6 years, 6 days	Peasant Worker Movement	President
—		Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis (1900–1966)	—	12 December 1956	3 February 1957	53 days	Independent	Provisional President
—		Franck Sylvain (1909–1987)	—	7 February 1957	2 April 1957	54 days	Independent	Provisional President
—		Executive Government Council	—	2 April 1957	25 May 1957	53 days	Independent	Executive Government Council
—		Daniel Fignolé (1913–1986)	—	25 May 1957	14 June 1957	20 days	Peasant Worker Movement	Provisional President
33		Antonio Thrasybule Kébreau (1909–1963)	—	14 June 1957	22 October 1957	130 days	Military	Chairman of the Military Council

Republic of Haiti during the Duvalier dynasty (1957–1986)

Symbols

• ^P Presidential referendum
• ^C Constitutional referendum

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
34		François Duvalier (1907–1971)	1957 1961^[P] 1964^[C]	22 October 1957	21 April 1971† ^[5]^[6]	13 years, 181 days	National Unity Party	President (22 October 1957 – 22 June 1964) President for Life (22 June 1964 – 21 April 1971)
35		Jean-Claude Duvalier (1951–2014)	1971^[C] 1985^[C]	21 April 1971^[k]	7 February 1986^[l]	14 years, 292 days	National Unity Party	President for Life

Republic of Haiti (1986–present)

Symbols

• ^I Indirect election

Status

•   Acting President

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Party	Title(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
36		Henri Namphy (1932–2018)	—	7 February 1986	7 February 1988	2 years	Military	President of the National Council of Government
37		Leslie Manigat (1930–2014)	1988	7 February 1988	20 June 1988^[m]	134 days	Rally of Progressive National Democrats	President
(36)		Henri Namphy (1932–2018)	—	20 June 1988	17 September 1988^[n]	89 days	Military	President
38		Prosper Avril (born 1937)	—	17 September 1988	10 March 1990	1 year, 236 days	Military	President
—		Hérard Abraham (1940–2022)	—	10 March 1990	13 March 1990	3 days	Military	Acting President
—		Ertha Pascal-Trouillot (born 1943)	—	13 March 1990	7 February 1991	331 days	Independent	Provisional President
39		Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born 1953)	1990–91	7 February 1991	29 September 1991^[o]	234 days	Struggling People's Organization	President
40		Raoul Cédras (born 1949)	—	29 September 1991	8 October 1991	9 days	Military	Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces^[p]
—		Joseph Nérette (1924–2007)	—	8 October 1991	19 June 1992	255 days	Independent	Provisional President
—		Council of Ministers Prime Minister: Marc Bazin (1932–2010)	—	19 June 1992	15 June 1993	361 days	Movement for the Instauration of Democracy in Haiti	Council of Ministers
(39)		Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born 1953)	—	15 June 1993	12 May 1994	331 days	Struggling People's Organization	President^[q]
—		Émile Jonassaint (1913–1995)	—	12 May 1994	12 October 1994	153 days	Independent	Provisional President
(39)		Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born 1953)	—	12 October 1994	7 February 1996	1 year, 118 days	Struggling People's Organization	President^[r]
41		René Préval (1943–2017)	1995	7 February 1996	7 February 2001	5 years	Fanmi Lavalas	President
(39)		Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born 1953)	2000	7 February 2001	29 February 2004^[s]	3 years, 22 days	Fanmi Lavalas	President
—		Boniface Alexandre (1936–2023)	—	29 February 2004	14 May 2006	2 years, 75 days	Independent	Provisional President
(41)		René Préval (1943–2017)	2006	14 May 2006	14 May 2011	5 years	Lespwa^[t]	President
							Inite
42		Michel Martelly (born 1961)	2010–11	14 May 2011	7 February 2016	4 years, 269 days	Repons Peyizan	President
—		Council of Ministers Prime Minister: Evans Paul (born 1955)	—	7 February 2016	14 February 2016	7 days	Independent	Council of Ministers
—		Jocelerme Privert (born 1953)	2016 (Feb)^[I]	14 February 2016	7 February 2017	359 days	Inite	Provisional President^[u]
43		Jovenel Moïse (1968–2021)	2016 (Nov)	7 February 2017	7 July 2021^[v]	4 years, 150 days	Haitian Tèt Kale Party	President
—		Council of Ministers Acting Prime Minister: Claude Joseph	—	7 July 2021	20 July 2021	13 days	Independent	Council of Ministers
—		Council of Ministers Acting Prime Minister: Ariel Henry (born 1949)	—	20 July 2021	Incumbent	2 years, 99 days	Independent	Council of Ministers

Timeline since 1804

See also

• History of Haiti
• Saint-Domingue
  • List of colonial governors of Saint-Domingue
• Politics of Haiti
• President of Haiti
• Prime Minister of Haiti
  • List of prime ministers of Haiti
• List of monarchs of Haiti
• List of Haitian royal consorts

Notes

1. Crowned on 8 October 1804
2. Rule limited to the northern part of Haiti
3. Crowned on 2 June 1811
4. Rule limited to the southern part of Haiti
5. United the northern Kingdom and the southern Republic in 1820
6. Crowned on 18 April 1852
7. Great-Grandson of Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Emperor of Haiti 1804–1806)
8. Son of Tirésias Simon Sam (President of Haiti 1896–1902). Also the inspiration for Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones
9. Served under the United States occupation
10. Served under the United States occupation until 1934
11. Succeeded his father as President for Life^[5][7]
12. Deposed in the Anti-Duvalier protest movement^[8]
13. Deposed in the June 1988 coup d'état
14. Deposed in the September 1988 coup d'état
15. Deposed in the 1991 coup d'état
16. De facto leader of Haiti (29 September 1991 – 12 October 1994)
17. In exile, but recognized in Haiti
18. Served under the United States occupation until 1995
19. Deposed in the 2004 coup d'état
20. Until November 2009
21. Presidential term expired on 14 June 2016
22. Assassinated^[9][10][11]

References

1. "Haitian Heads of State". Embassy of Haiti, Washington, D.C. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
2. "HAITIAN REBELS WIN; SIMON NOW AN EXILE; Six Are Killed in a Riot as President Embarks -- His Daughter Is Hurt". The New York Times. 3 August 1911. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
3. "EXPLOSION KILLS HAITIAN PRESIDENT; Leconte Perishes in Destruction of His Palace -- 400 Others Killed or Injured". The New York Times. 9 August 1912. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
4. "HAITI'S PRESIDENT FLEES TO WARSHIP; Fighting in Capital -- Our Bluejackets Land -- Battleship Is Rushing to Port au Prince". The New York Times. 28 January 1914. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
5. Homer Bigart (23 April 1971). "Duvalier, 64, Dies in Haiti; Son, 19, Is New President". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
6. Albin Krebs (23 April 1971). "Papa Doc, a Ruthless Dictator, Kept the Haitians in Illiteracy and Dire Poverty". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
7. "At 19, President for Life Jean‐Claude Duvalier". The New York Times. 26 April 1971. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
8. Joseph B. Treaster (8 February 1986). "DUVALIER FLEES HAITI TO END FAMILY'S 28 YEARS IN POWER: GENERAL LEADS NEW REGIME; 20 REPORTED DEAD". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
9. Beaumont, Peter; Phillips, Tom (7 July 2021). "Haiti president Jovenel Moïse assassinated". The Guardian. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
10. "Haiti President Jovenel Moïse assassinated at home". CNBC. 7 July 2021. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
11. "Le président Jovenel Moïse assassiné chez lui par un commando armé". Le Nouvelliste. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.