Key Figures

This page contains a brief reference guide of important figures in the U.S. occupation.

 

Haiti

Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam 

• President of Haiti from March 4 to July 27, 1915
• Assassinated in a military coup

Rosalvo Bobo

• Political opponent of Sam
• Against U.S. imperialism in Haiti
• Prevented from becoming president by the U.S. installing Dartiguenave

Sudre Dartiguenave

• President of Haiti, 1915-1922
• Installed as a puppet leader by U.S. Marines

Louis Borno

• President of Haiti, 1922-1930

Sténio Vincent

• Chosen as the President of Haiti in November 1930
• Called himself the "Second Liberator" for being the leader during U.S. withdrawal

United States

Woodrow Wilson

• President of the United States, 1914-1921

William Jennings Bryan

• Secretary of State, 1913-1915

Robert Lansing

• Secretary of State, 1915-1920

Bainbridge Colby

• Secretary of State, 1920-1921

Josephus Daniels

• Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1921

Arthur Bailly-Blanchard

• American ambassador to Haiti, 1914-1921

Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1920

William B. Caperton

• Admiral of the U.S. Navy
• Commanded naval forces that intervened in Haiti

Smedley Butler

• Commanding officer of the Haitian gendarmerie

John H. Russell

• High Commissioner of Haiti, 1922-1930, oversaw the Gendarmerie, Marine brigade, and civilian treaty officials