Jean-Pierre Boyer (February 28, 1776 – July 9, 1850), Haïtian soldier and President of Haïti (1818-1843), born a free mulatto in Port-au-Prince, and educated in France. He fought with Toussaint L'Ouverture and then joined André Rigaud, also a mulatto, in the latter's abortive insurrection against Toussaint. He returned in 1802 with the French army of Charles Leclerc, but later joined the patriots under Alexandre Pétion, who chose him as his successor.

Haïti, which gained its independence in 1804, was split north–south two years later following the overthrow of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines into two separate realms, belonging to Henri Christophe and Pétion. Boyer was made the successor of Pétion and took control of the south following his death in 1818. When Christophe committed suicide in 1820, Boyer secured the northern Kingdom of Haiti. When Spanish Santo Domingo became independent in late 1821 Boyer was quick to invade and thereby unite the entire island by February 9, 1822. Boyer ruled the entire island of Hispaniola until 1843 when he lost the support of the ruling elite and was ousted.[1]

Boyer received an education in France at a military school, due to the influence of his father. After that he joined the French Republican Army and after short period of time his status grew to that of a battalion commander. Next he joined up with the French Commissioners and returned to Haiti to take part in the fight against the white people and royalists in Haiti. Shortly after this, Haiti was invaded by the English. After this event Boyer went to Jacmal where "he joined forces with the mulatto leader, General Riguad." While all of the mulattos were surrendering to Toussaint Louverture in southern Haiti, Boyer and his new found friend Ruguad went to France.

On his way to France Boyer stopped in the United States for his first and last time. He only visited the United States that one time but "he always remembered it vividly." After that visit Boyer stated that he had a high regard for the Quakers and their charitable ways which they showed to him throughout his stay in America.

Shortly after this the Franco-American crisis ended, Boyer returned traveled to Paris where he stayed until 1801. Next, he returned to Haiti to protest Toussaint Louvetures newly gained independence. During this time it was uncovered that the French were planning on taking away the mulatto’s rights and beginning slavery once again in Haiti. Boyer was not going to just sit back and watch this happen. "The collaboration of Negroes and mulattos brought an end to French domination."

Haiti Invasion of Dominican Republic On the eastern side of Hispaniola, the Spanish side, the Dominicans, led by José Núñez de Cáceres had just declared independence from Spain (December 1, 1821) and founded the new nation in a period that would later be referred as the "La Independecia Efímera" (Ephemeral Independence). Boyer wouldn't allow its neighbors independence, so he quickly trampled the resistance and entered Santo Domingo just two months after the declaration of independence. At that time, the Dominican Republic had a small population of 80,000 people (1/10th the population of Haiti), no armed forces and greatly deprived public administration that sought it's affiliation to the new Gran Colombia nation founded by Simon Bolivar.

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