Placide Louverture

Placide Louverture is the son of Suzanne SIMON BAPTISTE. He was born in 1781 before his mother's marriage to Toussaint-Louverture, who legitimized him and who may have been his biological father, although authors claim that Placide's father was called Séraphin Clère.

Whatever the case, Toussaint legitimized him and considered him a true son, just as Placide considered Toussaint his true father. Along with his younger brother, Isaac, the sons were sent to France and Napoleon Bonaparte provided scholarships for them.

When Napoleon decided to take back the colony of Saint-Domingue, he sent Placide and Isaac with a letter to hand deliver to Toussaint Louverture asking him to retire and cooperate with General Leclerc.

Toussaint saw through Napoleons plans to re-enslave the people of the island and went to war. Toussaint asked his sons which side they were on. Placide chose to fight with his father and went into battle with him, rising to the rank of commander. Younger brother Isaac sided with Napoleon.

When Toussaint Louverture was arrested and deported on June 8, 1802 on the orders of Bonaparte, Suzanne, Placide and his brothers, Saint-Jean and Isaac, were also arrested and sent to France.