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Today in Haitian History - August 12, 1915 – Sudre Dartiguenave elected president of Haiti 

Born in Anse-à-Veau, Haiti in 1863, Philippe Sudre Dartiguenave was trained and worked as a lawyer before entering the Haitian Senate in 1910. He was already a political figure of some importance when the United States Marine Occupation of Haiti (1915-1934) began on July 28, 1915. As the need to pick a new president following Guillaume Sam assassination became imminent, U.S. authorities favoured Sudre Dartiguenave’s appointment in August 1915 in opposition the nomination of the charismatic caudillo-like Rosalvo Bobo whom they feared, was unstable and too dangerous to their interests.

Voted in office by the National Assembly, Dartiguenave became Haiti’s first president while under U.S. control and is often remembered for the rather docile manner in which he accepted Haitian capitulation to Washington. Whether a true assessment or an exaggeration of difficult circumstances that were placed before the head of state, he would go on to sign the very unpopular September 16, 1915, Haitian–American Convention (which, among other concessions, granted the United States the right to administer Haitian finances). Dartiguenave ruled the country as president for seven years as prescribed by both the 1889 Constitution and Americans. In 1922, Louis Borno assumed the presidency. 

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