François C. Antoine Simon (a.k.a. Antoine Simon) (; October 10, 1843 – March 10, 1923) was President of Haiti from 6 December 1908 to 2 August 1911.John Carlos Rowe, Literary culture and U.S. imperialism: from the Revolution to World War II (Oxford University Press US, 2000), page 274) He led a rebellion against Pierre Nord Alexis and succeeded him as president."Alexis Flees To French Ship; Haitian President Deposed, Leaves His Capital, Wrapped In The Tricolor" New York Times 3 December 1908

Biography Francois C. Antoine Simon was born on 10 October 1843 in Les Cayes, Haiti, and died either on 10 January or 10 March 1923 in Les Cayes. He was originally from the town of Savane near Les Cayes and initially worked as a municipal police officer before joining the army as an officer.

In 1883, he was appointed commander of the troops in Sud, a post he held until 1908. During his military career, he was promoted to colonel in 1887. Between 1896 and 1902, He was aide-de-camp of the President Tirésias Simon Sam and was later promoted to general. It was as a general that he led a military revolt against President Pierre Nord Alexis.

Presidency 1908–1911 On 6 December 1908, he was appointed successor to President Alexis."Hurry Election Of Simon In Haiti; Followers Fear Delay May Cause Disorders And Invite Intervention From United States" New York Times 8 December 1908"Simon Elected President; Following Action by Haitian Congress, He Is Recognized By The United States", New York Times 18 December 1908 Although he had little formal education himself, he assembled an advisory group consisting of influential men. On 19 December 1908 he announced his six-member cabinet and took the oath of office before Senator Paulin."Haitian Cabinet Formed; President Simon Announces The List Of His Official Advisers", New York Times 20 December 1908"President Simon Takes Oath; New Haitian Executive Formally Inaugurated In Port-Au-Prince" New York Times 21 December 1908

One of his first policy decisions was to pursue an appeasement policy allowing exiled Haitians to return. This set the stage for some stability during the early years of his mandate. President Simon strove constantly to improve agricultural production. He also had the intention of building a nationwide railway network. To accomplish this required several contracts with American companies, including the so-called "MacDonald Contract" – a contract to build a railway line between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. Embedded in these negotiations was the cultivation and export of sugar and bananas by the Haitian American Sugar Company. However, these contracts were poorly prepared, leading to criticism from intellectuals and politicians alike. On the other hand, the contracts led directly to the paving of streets and electrification of Port-au-Prince. As a result of the modern roads, there was an increase in the presence of cars in Haiti.

To satisfy American banana plantations, Haitian companies were taxed, resulting in unrest by small landowners who ultimately paid the price. Small farmers in the north (Cacos) then began to revolt in June 1911. General Cincinnatus Leconte, a former Minister of Public Works and Agriculture under Simon Sam, took advantage of the situation to lead a coup d'état against Simon.

Leconte's initial campaign failed, but a subsequent attempt in August 1911 succeeded in the capture of Port-au-Prince. Simon was ousted from power by supporters of Leconte, who was his successor as President."Rebels Near Haiti's Capital; But Simon Hopes To Quell Revolt Through Dispensions Of Enemies" New York Times 29 July 1911 Simon went into exile"Haitian Rebels Win; Simon Now An Exile" New York Times 3 August 1911 for several years, but returned to Haiti where he died in Les Cayes.

In Tell My Horse, Zora Neale Hurston recounts the elaborate Catholic funeral Simon gave to his pet goat Simalo upon the goat's death.

Family His ancestors are Pierre Baptiste Simon, Toussaint Louverture. One of President A. Simon’s daughter Anézulia Simon married Sergeant Lubencius Lubin whose children are: Antoine Lubin, Thérese Lubin, Darius Lubin, Alexandre Lubin, Damien Lubin, Claire Lubin; Ulysses Ilemond Simon, Dominique Bienvil Simon and Celestina was a voodoo priestess, Antoine Simon Jeune (Antoinier) whose children with his wife Sanite Augustin are: Max, Alex, Amede, Cecile. A grandson named Charite Simon, and his great-grandchildren Romane Antoine Simon, James Simon, Sintilma Simon, Kettelie Simon, Fred Simon, Franck Simon, Esther Simon, Sylvie Simon, Emmanuella Simon, Cherlin Simon. He also had 2 great-great-grandsons named Marcel Simon and Sean Valere

References

External links Biography in rulers.org Haitian Presidents Chapter XXIX, Haiti History Chapters, in: Haitiwebs.com Biography in Haitianmedia Fearon, James D./ Laitin, David D.: Haiti , Stanford University, 2006 (PDF-Datei; 259 kB) Decades Of Instability, 1843–1915, Library Of Congress, 1989 World History: Haiti 1859–1915