Edmond Sylvestre Polynice was a Haitian military and political figure who served as interim President of Haiti twice in 1914, both times acting as head of a Committee of Public Safety. Previously, Polynice had been a member of the May 1902 committee headed by

Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal (; 12 June 1832 – 6 March 1905) was a Haitian politician who served as the president of Haiti three times. Boisrond-Canal was born 12 June 1832 in the town of Les Cayes, Haiti. He began a military career. He was a ...

. In the 1910s, Haiti experienced a severe political crisis. These turbulent years were marked by successive ephemeral governments and Cacos revolts. After the deaths of generals

Cincinnatus Leconte Jean Jacques Dessalines Michel Cincinnatus Leconte (September 29, 1854 – August 8, 1912) was List of heads of state of Haiti, President of Haiti from August 15, 1911, until his death on August 8, 1912. He was the great-grandson of Jean-Jacqu ...

and Tancrède Auguste, civilian

Michel Oreste Michel Oreste Lafontant (April 8, 1859 – October 29, 1918) served as president of Haiti from May 1913 to January 1914. He was a reformist toppled by forces loyal to landowner elites such as his successor Oreste Zamor. He died in exile in New Yo ...

was elected president in 1913. He was forced to resign on January 27, 1914, because of an insurrectional coup led by the Zamor's cacos. Edmond Polynice temporarily assumed power in Haiti, presiding over a civil-military committee responsible for maintaining political order. Immediately after Michel Oreste's fall, American, British, German and French marines landed to protect their interests - General Polynice called this a "national humiliation". Polynice transferred power to

Oreste Zamor Emmanuel Oreste Zamor (1861 – July 27, 1915) was a Haitian general and politician who served as the president of Haiti in 1914. He was executed the following year after being ousted in a coup. Career During the Haitian civil war of 1912, O ...

on February 8, after the National Assembly elected him as president. After Zamor's fall in the same year, General Polynice took power again with an provisional committee, ruling from October 29 to November 6, transferring the presidency to

Joseph Davilmar Théodore Joseph Davilmar Théodore (; March 25, 1847 – January 13, 1917) was President of Haiti from 7 November 1914 to 22 February 1915. Born in the town of Ennery, Artibonite, Ennery in the northern half of the country, he began his career in the mil ...

. Edmond Polynice, together with Charles de Delva and Ermane Robin, formed a revolutionary plot against President

Vilbrun Guillaume Sam Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam (; 4 March 1859 – 28 July 1915) was List of Presidents of Haïti, President of Haiti from 4 March 1915 until his assassination months later. He was the son of Tirésias Simon Sam, Haiti's president from 1896 to 1902 ...

which culminated in the early hours of July 27, in an attack on the National Palace. Cornered, President Sam took refuge in the French Legation. In retaliation, Sam's loyal police chief, Charles Oscar Etienne, ordered the execution of political prisoners. Polynice, who lost three sons during the executions, appeared in person at the Dominican Legation, finding Charles Oscar Étienne and shoot him dead. Around the same time, a mob invades the French Legation and kills the President Sam. After the murder of Vilbrun Sam, Polynice became a member of the Revolutionary Committee (28 July to 11 August 1915, led by Charles de Delva). In fact, the committee only controlled the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, and its activities took place against the backdrop of the American invasion of Haiti and the rebellion of revolutionary

Rosalvo Bobo Dr. Pierre François Joseph Benoit Rosalvo Bobo (1874–1929), known as Rosalvo Bobo, was a Haitian politician, and a leader of the rebel faction called the Cacos (military group), Cacos. In March of 1915, he started and led a rebellion against ...

. Polynice was part of a special commission that negotiated with Bobo. In August, the committee transferred power to Philippe Dartiguenave.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polynice, Edmond Presidents of Haiti Haitian military leaders 20th-century Haitian people 1855 births 1915 deaths