He was born in Port-au-Prince, and in April 1971, he assumed the presidency of Haiti at the age of 19 upon the death of his father, François Duvalier (nicknamed "Papa Doc"), becoming the world's youngest president.
Tortuga freeport
In 1971, shortly before the death of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, Texas entrepreneur Don Pierson entered into a 99-years contract to develop a freeport on the island of Tortuga. Following the death of his father and upon learning of a new multimillion dollar contract between the Freeport and Gulf Oil Corporation, Jean-Claude Duvalier expropriated the entire venture in 1974, causing it to collapse.
Political and economic repression
He held on to power until February 7, 1986 when, in response to three months of protest against the government's political and economic repression, fearing prosecution he fled the country and settled in France.
Exile and announced return
Following the ouster of the elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, Duvalier announced his intention to return to Haiti.
