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Haiti News Media > Haiti News > Faustin Soulouque - Haitian President Faustin Soulouque, Haitian President 
Faustin-Élie Soulouque (1782? - August 6, 1867) was a career officer and general in the Haïtian army. He was made President of Haïti on March 1, 1847. In 1849 he was proclaimed Emperor of Haïti under the name of Faustin I. He was forced to abdicate by revolutionaries on January 15, 1859.
Born in Petit-Goâve in 1782 as Faustin-Élie Soulouque, he was one of two sons born to Marie-Catherine Soulouque. He was freed by his owner Léger-Félicité Sonthonax on August 29, 1793. As a free citizen he enlisted in the black revolutionary army and fought as a private during the Haïtian Revolution between 1803-1804. During the conflict Soulouque became a respected soldier and as a consequence in 1806 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army of Haïti and made Aide de Camp to General Lamarre. In 1810 he was appointed to the Horse Guards under President Pétion. During the next four decades he continued to serve in the Haïtian Military, rising to the rank of Colonel under President Guerier, until finally promoted to the highest command in the Haïtian Army, attaining the rank of Lieutenant General and Supreme Commander of the Presidential Guards under then President Jean-Baptiste Riché.
In 1847 President Riché died. During his tenure he had acted as a figure head for the Boyerist ruling class, who immediately began to look for a replacement. Their attention quickly focused on Faustin Soulouque, whom the majority considered him to be a somewhat dull and ignorant man. At the age of 65 he seemed to be a malleable candidate and was subsequently enticed to accept the role offered him, taking the Presidential Oath of Office on March 2, 1847.
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