Michel Domingue

Who was Michel Domingue?

Michel Domingue was the President of Haiti from June 14, 1874 to April 15, 1876.

Michel Domingue was born in Les Cayes in 1813. He graduated from military training and became commander of army units in the Sud Department.

From May 8, 1868 to December 1869, he was president of the autonomous states of the south of Haiti. On June 11, 1874, General Domingue was elected for a term of eight years as president of Haiti.

Domingue, who was primarily a soldier, had neither the stature nor the tact of a statesman. He therefore issued a decree on September 10, 1874 appointing Septimus Rameau to manage public functions as the Vice-President of the Council of Secretaries of State. Septimus Rameau thus became the true ruler of Haiti. Rameau was dictatorial and domineering by nature, while Michel Domingue was more of a figurehead.

One of Domingue's first acts after his election to the presidency was the signing of an agreement with the Dominican Republic. The agreement established the countries' mutual recognition and in particular an end to the long and bloody border war between them. Septimus Rameau also led negotiations with the President of the Dominican Republic Ignacio María González.