Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal

Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (12 June 1832 – 6 March 1905) was a Haitian politician who served as the President of Haiti three times.

Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
President of the Provisional Government of Haiti
In office 26 May 1902 – 21 December 1902
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Pierre Nord Alexis
President of the Committee of Public Safety of Haiti
In office 14 May 1902 – 26 May 1902
Preceded by	Tirésias Simon Sam
Succeeded by	Himself
Minister of War and Navy
In office 1 October 1888 – 15 October 1888
Preceded by	Séïde Thélémaque
Succeeded by	Anselme Prophète
President of the Provisional Government of Haiti
In office 1 September 1888 – 16 December 1888
Preceded by	Lysius Salomon
Succeeded by	François Denys Légitime
12th President of Haiti
In office 23 April 1876 – 17 July 1879
Preceded by	Michel Domingue
Succeeded by	Lysius Salomon
Member of the Provisional Government of Haiti
In office 23 April 1876 – 19 July 1876
Personal details
Born	12 June 1832 Les Cayes, Haiti
Died	6 March 1905 (aged 72) Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse(s)	Marie Claire Wilmina Phipps Lise Régnier

Boisrond-Canal was born 12 June 1832 in the town of Les Cayes, Haiti. He began a military career. He was an officer from 1858 to 1867 during the administration of Fabre Geffrard. He then retired from military service and became a farmer.

His political career began in 1870, when he was elected a senator in Port-au-Prince. He was then re-elected until 1875. After the riots of May 1875, after which he was holed up in the home of U.S. ambassador Ebenezer Bassett for five months from May to October, he went into exile in Kingston, Jamaica, for a few weeks. On his return, he was appointed the commander of the army in the Ouest department by President Michel Domingue. On 23 April 1876, he replaced Michel Domingue as the first president of the provisional government, before becoming President of Haiti non-provisionally on 17 July 1876. The 1867 Constitution gave him a mandate of four years. During Boisrond-Canal's administration, tensions in domestic politics and foreign affairs grew, particularly because of the differences between liberal and nationalist parties in Parliament. Following a stormy debate in the House of Representatives on 30 June 1879, there were riots in Port-au-Prince in which the Liberal leader Jean-Pierre Boyer-Bazelais played a significant role. Although the government managed to restore law and order, Boisrond-Canal resigned as president on 17 July 1879, unable to mediate between the Liberal and National parties. The successor to the presidency was Lysius Salomon. After his resignation, Boisrond-Canal left again in exile in Jamaica.

After Boisrond-Canal's return from exile and Salomon's resignation on 10 August 1888, Boisrond-Canal was again named Acting President of Haiti. He was succeeded as president by François Denys Légitime on 16 October 1888. On 26 May 1902, Boisrond-Canal was appointed successor to Tirésias Simon Sam as new interim president of Haiti. On 17 December 1902 Pierre Nord Alexis became his successor.

Boisrond-Canal was one of the most influential politicians of his time in Haiti and significantly influenced Haitian politics even when not serving as president. He died in Port-au-Prince on 6 March 1905.

Boisrond-Canal's younger brother, Louis-Auguste Boisrond-Canal, was an active political figure in 1908 as a member of the Commission for public order and interim president of Haiti.

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