Cincinnatus Leconte

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Cincinnatus Leconte

Jean Jacques Dessalines Michel Cincinnatus Leconte (born September 29, 1854 in Ouanaminthe or Saint-Michel-de-l'Atalaye , † August 8, 1912 in Port-au-Prince ) was a Haitian politician and President of Haiti .

biography

Professional and political career

The great-grandson of Jean-Jacques Dessalines , the first President and Emperor of Haiti , studied abroad. On his return he worked as an engineer and teacher before becoming director of the Customs Department of Cap-Haïtien .

He was a minister during the tenure of President Florvil Hyppolite (1889 to 1896) . On December 13, 1897, he was appointed Minister of Public Works and Agriculture by President Tirésias Simon-Sam .

Leconte, who was to become president in 1902 after the resignation of Simon-Sam, was charged with involvement in the so-called consolidation scandal ( Process de la Consolidation ) and was only pardoned by President François C. Antoine Simon in 1908.

Leconte was then an important entrepreneur who exerted significant influence on the workers he employed. Worried that the construction of the railway line between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien would reduce this influence, he drove the uprising of the small farmers ( cacos ).

President 1911 to 1912

After he had gained control of the city of Ouanaminthe on February 2, 1911 , he was already proclaimed president by the Revolutionary Committee in Gonaïves , but in the following months there were still conflicts between the various revolutionary armies, such as the supporters of Leconte and General Anténor Firmin , the previous envoy in Great Britain .

This proclamation was then confirmed by the National Assembly on August 5, 1911, when he was elected to succeed François C. Antoine Simon as President of Haiti . He was able to count on the support of German merchants in particular, as well as the foreign soldiers who were often sent, as in previous changes of power, as this time by German marines . On August 7, 1911, he presented his new government to the public.

Despite his involvement in the consolidation scandal, because of which he was initially little respected by the people, he soon succeeded in gaining the trust of the people through the establishment of public foundations. In the months that followed, there was a return of peace, honesty, and progress. At the same time, during his reign, the army was reformed, the Dessalines barracks were built and order was restored in the public service. During a visit to Haiti by US Secretary of State Philander C. Knox , relations with the United States of America were also improved. During his short term of office, the anti- Arab , especially anti- Syrian sentiments continued - these groups of foreigners who had gained control over the majority of the middle class in the capital Port-au-Prince and several large cities in a relatively short time . were blamed for the economic crisis.

On August 8, 1912, he died together with three hundred officers and soldiers of the Presidential Guard after a little over a year in office in an explosion that completely destroyed the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince . Tancrède Auguste was elected as his successor as president on the same day .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Haiti's New Ministry; Liberal In Policy, But Less Pronounced Than The Old One. In: New York Times. December 14, 1897
  2. Uneasiness In Haiti; Serious Complications Feared In Selection Of Successor To President Sam. In: New York Times. May 11, 1902
  3. ^ Rival Factions Threatens Haiti; We May Have To Intervene If Lecontists And Firminists Clash. In: New York Times. 4th August 1911
  4. ^ Elected Haiti's President; Leconte Chosen By Congress - Simons Friends Go To Jamaica. In: New York Times. August 15, 1911
  5. ^ Foreign Control Needed In Haiti; Honest Officials In Custom House Would Put A Stop To Looting Of Treasury. In: New York Times. August 27, 1911
  6. ^ Watching American Interests In Haiti; Those Who Have Invested Millions There Look To President Leconte For Protection. In: New York Times. September 3, 1911
  7. ^ Ralf Dietl: USA and Central America: The foreign policy of William J. Bryan 1913-1915. Dissertation, University of Tübingen, 1995, p. 193 ff., ISBN 3515069143
  8. Leconte In Haitis Capital; Revolutionary Leader Takes Possession Of National Palace. In: New York Times. August 8, 1911
  9. Leconte Not Recognized; This Country Awaits Assurances As To Foreign Investments. In: New York Times. August 17, 1911
  10. Jacqueline Charles: Arab Haitians Become More Vocal, Visible. ( January 21, 2010 memento on the Internet Archive ) Miami Herald
  11. ^ Explosion Kills Haitian President; Leconte Perishes In Destruction Of His Palace - 400 Hundred Killed Or Injured. In: New York Times. August 9, 1912
  12. ^ New York Times. August 10, 1912
  13. Step in front of the exit . In: Der Spiegel . No. 7 , 1996 ( online ).

Web links

predecessor Office successor
François C. Antoine Simon President of Haiti
July 24, 1911–8. August 1912
Tancrède Auguste