Haitian emperor, born in Guinea, Africa, 1758; died in Haiti on the 17th of October 1806. He was the slave of a French planter, whose name he afterward assumed. He fought in the revolutionary wars of Haiti, becoming adjutant-general under the negro commander, Jean François, and afterward joining Toussaint L’Ouverture, when the latter united with the French. He became lieutenant-general, fought the mulatto chief Rigaud, winning a name for energy, dissoluteness and brutality. When peace was declared he was appointed governor of the south part of Haiti. His administration was marked by cruelty to the negroes; the cold-blooded murder of Toussaint’s nephew; friendliness with the French forces, which was afterward followed by a war of extermination upon them. When the French had been expelled from the island (1804), Dessalines was made governor-general for life. At first he ruled wisely, but he soon evinced his disposition by ordering a massacre of all the white inhabitants. He had himself crowned emperor of Haiti, taking the title of Jean Jacques I. He became more despotic than ever, concentrating all power within his own hands, and killing every person of whom he was suspicious. An insurrection arose in 1806, and he was killed by his officers.
