Christophe
HENRI, a King of Haiti, was an African slave; born in Grenada, West Indies, in 1767, he received his freedom as a reward of faithful service. On the outbreak of the negro insurrection in 1801, he became one of its leaders, and attracted by his energy and ability the attention of Toussaint l'Ouverture, who conferred upon him a divisional military command. After the deposition of Toussaint, Christophe served under his successor, Dessalines, and waged a war of increasing ferocity against the French, who, in 1803, were compelled to evacuate the island. In 1811 1811, Christophe obtained undisputed possession of a portion of the island with the title of King of Haiti. His reign was that of a sanguinary despot, occasioning ultimately a successful revolt of his black subjects, whereupon he committed suicide in 1820. a