President Michel Oreste

President Michel Oreste is famous in Haitian History for being one of the four presidents in 2 years.  Those of us who attended elementary and secondary school in Haiti would clearly remember his name having been raised in the state’s exams, as in “Who were the four presidents to be elected in two years?  For the sake of answering this question, they were Michel Oreste, Oreste Zamor, Davilmar Theodore and Vilbrun Guillaume Sam.

Two days following the death of President Tancrete Auguste, on May 4, 1913, the Haitian parliament elected Senator Michel Oreste president of Haiti for a 7 years term.  His transition was not at all trouble-free for there were serious disorders before and after his inauguration.  The rioting began as the funeral service of President Auguste was taking place in the Cathedral.

President Michel Oreste practiced law before joining the senate.  His administration was short lived due to the resistance of the Haitian Army to civilian rule as he was the first civilian to be elected president.  His administration was weakened by the 1914 revolution of the cacos and he was therefore forced to resign the presidency on January 27, 1914 and fled the country.

Below is President Michel Oreste’s obituary as it appeared in the New York Times on October 31, 1918

Michel Oreste, Ex-Haitian President Michel Oreste, one-time President of Haiti, died of uraemia Monday at the home of Mrs. Guilabund, 235 West Fourteenth Street, having been taken ill on his way over from Paris a few days prior to the landing of the steamer at an American port Sunday night.  Mr. Oreste was born in Jacmel, Haiti, and was 59 years old.  He was educated in Law and held different offices and finally became President, which he was forced to abdicate during the revolution in 1914 and fled to Europe.  His body will be taken later to Haiti.  He was accompanied on his voyage from France by his wife.

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