Guillaume Nicolas Fabre Geffrard, Président d'Haiti

Fabre Nicholas Geffrard was a General in the Haitian Army and President from 1859 to 1867. Cutting the Arny in half from 30.000 to 15.000 was his first act as President. He also formed his own presidential guard called " Les Tirailleurs de la Guarde" who were trained under him personally. Under his presidency the country was in the path of modernization. He founded the National Law School and re instituted the medical school that Boyer began. He built many lycea in Jacmel, Gonaives, Saint Marc and Jeremie. He reintroduce the colonial law that required the roads to be built and maintained. He marked his accession by acts of clemency and by salutary reforms, declining the absolute power offered to him. Despite these, his popularity was impaired by what was denounced as his subserviency towards Spain on its taking possession of the Dominican Republic. The Minister of Interior Guerier Prophete, conspired against him, and instigated an attempt upon his life on September 3rd, which resulted in the assassination of his daughter Cora Manneville-Blanfort" who had just been married. The minister and two accomplices were sentenced to death in their absence; 16 others were executed, and a few were imprisoned. In 1863, Aimé Legros gathered troops to overthrow Geffrard, but his troops turned against him and was shot. In 1864 the elite of Port-au-Prince tried to take over the weaponry storage but was later prosecuted and sentenced to jail. In 1867 his own bodyguards Tirailleurs" betrayed him and tried to assassinate him inside the National Palace.

Geffrard regime was in ruins, especially financially. He reopened old wounds between North, West and South Haitians and brought foreigners into domestic affairs. In 1866 a huge fire engulfed hundred of houses businesses. In March 1867, Geffrard and his family disguise themselves and fled to Jamaica where he died in Kingston in 1878.

Years in office: 1859-1867 Note about terms: Overthrown.

Fabre Nicolas Geffrard was the presdient of Haiti! He served for 8 years. During his presidency, he signed an agreement with the pope, stipulating that the Hatian public schools be structured like French schools.

Contributed by Mamilou (Louis Denis-Bouzi) (via Gabe Brewdant), 8/3/2008