1743 — Toussaint Louverture Born in Saint-Domingue

Born on May 20, 1743, in Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), Toussaint Louverture became the architect of the only successful slave revolt in modern history. A formerly enslaved man, Louverture rose to lead the Haitian Revolution against French colonial rule, helping to establish Haiti as the first Black republic in 1804. His military and diplomatic skills reshaped global views on Black leadership and resistance. Though captured and imprisoned by the French before the revolution concluded, Louverture\’s legacy lived on in the independent nation his leadership inspired. His birthdate is celebrated as a global symbol of Black liberation, anti-colonial resistance, and Pan-African resilience. For Black communities worldwide, May 20 marks the birth of a revolutionary who changed the course of history and inspired generations of freedom fighters.