Paul Magloire

Paul Magloire
President of Haiti
In office December 6, 1950 – December 12, 1956
Preceded by	Franck Lavaud
Succeeded by	Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis
Minister of Interior and Defence
In office May 12, 1950 – August 3, 1950
President	Franck Lavaud
Preceded by	Louis Raymond
Succeeded by	Luc E. Fouché
Member of the Government Junta of Haiti
In office May 10, 1950 – December 6, 1950
President	Franck Lavaud
Minister of Interior and Defence
In office January 12, 1946 – August 16, 1946
President	Franck Lavaud
Preceded by	Vély Thébaud
Succeeded by	Georges Honorat
Member of the Executive Military Committee
In office January 11, 1946 – August 16, 1946
President	Franck Lavaud
Personal details
Born	Paul Eugène Magloire July 19, 1907 Quartier-Morin, Haiti
Died	July 12, 2001 (aged 93) Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Nationality	Haitian
Political party	Peasant Worker Movement
Spouse(s)	Yolette Leconte
Occupation	Military (Division general)

Paul Eugène Magloire (July 19, 1907 – July 12, 2001), nicknamed Bon Papa,^[1] was a Haitian military ruler from 1950 to 1956.

Life and career

Magloire was born a general's son, and joined the army himself in 1930. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became Police Chief of Port-au-Prince in 1944. In 1946 he participated in a successful coup against President Élie Lescot. When his successor, President Dumarsais Estimé, tried to extend his term of office in 1950, Magloire ousted him with the help of a local elite and took power.

During his rule Haiti became a favorite tourist spot for American and European tourists. His anti-communist position also gained favorable reception from the US government. In addition, he used revenues from the sale of coffee to repair towns, build roads, public buildings and a dam. He also oversaw the institution of women's suffrage. Magloire was very fond of a vivid social life, staging numerous parties, social events and ceremonies.

In 1954, when Hurricane Hazel ravaged Haiti and relief funds were stolen, Magloire's popularity fell. In 1956 there was a dispute about when his presidency would end; he fled the country amid strikes and demonstrations. When François Duvalier took the presidency, he stripped Magloire of his Haitian citizenship.

In 1986, when Baby Doc Duvalier lost power, Magloire returned to Haiti from New York. Two years later he became an unofficial army advisor. He died in 2001.^[2][3] He was married to Yolette Leconte until her death in 1981.^[4]

References

1. "Haiti: Au Revoir, Magloire". Time. December 24, 1956. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
2. "Paul Magloire, Former Haitian Ruler, 94". New York Times. July 16, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
3. Chamberlain, Greg (July 19, 2001). "Paul Magloire". The Guardian. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
4. "Yolette Leconte Magloire, 62, Wife of Ex-President of Haiti". New York Times. June 22, 1981. Retrieved October 12, 2015.

Further reading

• Nicholls, David (1979). From Dessalines to Duvalier: Race, Colour, and National Independence in Haiti. ISBN 978-0-8135-2240-1.
• Trouillot, Michel-Rolph (1989). Haiti: State Against Nation. Monthly Review Press. ISBN 978-0-85345-755-8. ISBN 978-0-85345-756-5 (pbk).