Fabre Geffrard, a mulatto soldier and president of Hayti, born at L'Anse-Veau, Sept. 19, 1806. His father, Nicholas Geffrard, was a general of the war of independence and one of the framers of the national constitution. Fabre entered the army in 1821. After the downfall of President Boyer in 1842 he rapidly rose in rank and consideration, and became general of division in 1845, to which rank Soulouque on becoming emperor in 1849 added a ducal title. Geffrard's popularity increased in proportion to the decline of that of his master, and at the end of 1858 he led the revolution against him, proclaiming his deposition at Saint-Marc. While the emperor was marching toward that place with a considerable force, Geffrard succeeded in outwitting him, and in entering Port-au-Prince Jan. 15, 1859. He banished Soulouque to Jamaica, and being at once chosen as president, he marked his accession by acts of clemency and by salutary reforms, declining to accept the absolute power offered him. Those who had benefited by previous abuses now conspired against him, together with the minister of the interior, Guerrier-Prophete, and instigated an attempt upon his life (Sept. 3), which resulted only in the assassination of his daughter, who had just been married.

The minister and two accomplices were sentenced to death in their absence; 16 others were executed, and a few were pardoned or imprisoned. In 1861 his popularity was impaired by what was denounced as his subserviency toward Spain on its taking possession of the Dominican republic; and intestine commotions being set on foot on various pretexts, outbreaks became henceforward habitual occurrences, which were suppressed and many of their leaders executed. In 1864 Sal-nave headed an insurrection in the N. part of Hayti, which had belonged to Dominica. This movement being put down and Salnave outlawed, he enlisted soldiers in the adjoining republic and proclaimed a provisional government of the Cape district in May, 1865. In November this was overthrown with the aid of the English, with whose rights it had interfered, and Salnave took refuge on board an American man-of-war. In July, 1866, he led a new outbreak at Gonaives, which was once more put down. To reconcile the people, who began to compare him with Soulouque, Gef-frard abolished capital punishment for political offences; but the revolution continued and increased in strength till Salnave gained possession of the capital, March 13, 1867, and Gef-frard was obliged to take refuge in Jamaica.