Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture

François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture was a key leader of the Haitian Revolution, which led to Haiti’s independence from France in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born as a former enslaved person, he became a skilled military strategist and diplomat, fighting for the rights of enslaved people and against colonial rule. Louverture unified rival groups, abolished slavery in the colony, and established a semi-independent government. His leadership transformed Haiti into the first black-led republic, but he was eventually captured by the French and died in captivity in 1803. His efforts are celebrated as a fight for freedom and justice.