François Denys Légitime

François Denys Légitime (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa dəni leʒitim]; November 20, 1841 – July 29, 1935) was a Haitian general who served as President of Haiti from 1888 to 1889.

François Denys Légitime
Member of the State Council representing Sud
In office June 22, 1918 – June 5, 1919
14th President of Haiti
In office December 16, 1888 – August 22, 1889
Preceded by	Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
Succeeded by	Monpoint Jeune
Chief of the Executif Branch of Haiti
In office October 16, 1888 – December 16, 1888
Preceded by	Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
Succeeded by	Himself
Member of the Provisional Government of Haiti
In office September 1, 1888 – October 16, 1888
President	Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
In office September 1, 1888 – December 16, 1888
President	Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal
Preceded by	Brutus Saint-Victor
Succeeded by	Eugène Margron (Foreign Affairs) Massillon Lauture (Worship)
Minister of Agriculture, Interior, Education, Worship and Justice
In office August 26, 1881 – December 31, 1881
President	Lysius Salomon
Preceded by	Himself (Agriculture and Interior) Charles Archin (Education, Worship and Justice)
Succeeded by	François Manigat (Agriculture and Education) Edouard Pickombe (Interior) Thomas Madiou (Justice and Worship)
Minister of Agriculture, Finance, Commerce and Interior
In office January 9, 1881 – August 26, 1881
President	Lysius Salomon
Preceded by	Himself (Agriculture, Finance and Commerce) Evarise Laroche (Interior)
Succeeded by	Himself (Agriculture and Interior) Brutus Saint-Victor (Finance and Commerce)
Minister of Agriculture, Finance and Commerce
In office December 9, 1880 – January 9, 1881
President	Lysius Salomon
Preceded by	Evariste Laroche
Succeeded by	Himself
Personal details
Born	François Déus Légitime (1841-11-20)November 20, 1841 Jérémie, Haiti
Died	July 29, 1935(1935-07-29) (aged 93) Port-au-Prince
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Rose Marie Isaure Marion
Occupation	Military general

Biography

Légitime was born in Jérémie, Haiti, on 20 November 1841^[1] to Denys Légitime and Tinette Lespérance.^[2] Lespérance was a grandson of Modeste Testas.^[3] Légitime married Rose-Marie Isaure Marion and had nine children: Cuvier, Edmond, Angèle, Antoinette, Denis Jr., Léon, Clemence, Marie, and Agnès.^[2]

He served as adjutant general during the government of Fabre Geffrard, and as aide-de-camp during the government of Sylvain Salnave.^[2] He was Secretary of State of the Interior and then Secretary of State of the Interior and of Agriculture during the government of Lysius Salomon.^[2] During this administration, Légitime was accused of aspiring to the presidency, and moved to Kingston, Jamaica, for three years.^[4]

He returned to Haiti at the invitation of his followers, and on October 7, 1888, was elected president of the provisional government.^[4] General Seide Thelemaque denounced the election as fraudulent and attempted to make himself President, but he was killed in the battle which ensued.^[4] Légitime was elected President of Haiti on December 16, 1888, but resigned in 1889, owing to the opposition of General Florvil Hyppolite, and again retired to Jamaica.^[4] In 1896 President Tiresias Simon Sam granted a general amnesty, and Légitime returned to Haiti.^[4] He died on July 29, 1935 in Port-au-Prince.^[5]

He wrote La nation ou la race haïtienne (1888).^[6]