Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Jean-Jacques Dessalines was the first Haitian Emperor, and leader of the Haitian Revolution, and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1805 constitution. Initially regarded as governor-general, Dessalines was later named Emperor of Haiti as Jacques I (1804–1806) by generals of the Haitian Revolutionary army and ruled in that capacity until being assassinated in 1806. He spearheaded the resistance against French massacres upon Haitians, and eventually became the architect of the 1804 Haitian Massacre against the remaining French residents of Haiti, including some supporters of the revolution. Alongside Toussaint Louverture, he has been referred to as one of the fathers of the nation of Haiti.

20 September 1758

Born on the same birth day (20 September): Birgitta Dahl • Carleton Ellis • Dave Hemingway • Enrico Mizzi • Gain (singer) • Henry Samueli • Ian Desmond • Johnny Kidd (wrestler) • Lee Hall (playwright) • Linda Eenpalu • Obdulio Varela • Scott Minto (rugby league) • Sexy Star • Steve Tom • Tito Tebaldi • William H. Illingworth

Born in the same month (September 1758): Christopher Gore • Cosme Argerich • Hannah Webster Foster • Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson • Josepha Barbara Auernhammer