Toussaint L'ouverture
Toussaint L'Ouverture (c. 1743–1803) was the leader of the Haitian Revolution.  Toussaint L’Ouverture started his military career as a leader of the 1791 slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue, which was a French colony.  When he did this he was a free black man (not a slave). Toussaint built and led a large army.  His army gradually took control over the whole island (also the Spanish part called Santo Domingo).  When he had power for years, he tried to improve the security and economy on Saint-Domingue.  He also restored the plantation system, by using paid workers.