1799

1798 1800

In Spring of 1799 the British sailor Marcus Rainsford travels to Saint-Domingue, meets Toussaint Louverture and later recounts his experiences in the book A Memoir of Transactions that took place in St. Domingo....

March

 * Dr. Edward Stevens named U.S. Consul General to Saint-Domingue.

May
On May 23, Edward Stevens, Consul General of the U.S. to Saint-Domingue, wrote to General Maitland, formerly the head of the British forces in the colony: "The Agency of San-Domingo had received positive orders from the Executive Directory to invade both the Southern States of America and the island of Jamaica. Gen. Toussaint Louverture was consulted on the best mode of making the attack." (Korngold, p. ix.) Toussaint Louverture refused to carry out this attack

June

 * The War of Knives, between troops controlled by André Rigaud and Toussaint Louverture, begins.
 * On June 13 Toussaint Louverture makes a secret treaty with Great Britain and the United States which states, in part, "No expedition shall be sent out against any of the possessions of his Britannic Majesty and of the United States of America." (Korngold)
 * On June 24 U.S. Consul Stevens tells Sec. of State Pickering of the “absolute necessity of supporting Toussaint by every legal measure."
 * On June 26 US President John Adams signs a Proclamation Regarding Commerce with St. Domingo, allowing U.S. trade with the French colony to resume.

November

 * On November 11 Napoléon Bonaparte becomes the ruler of France through the the coup of the 18th Brumaire. This also makes him the ruler of s colony Saint-Domingue, as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the First French Republic.

December

 * On December 14 U.S. Secretary of State Pickering instructs Navy Capt. Silas Talbot to give "protection to every part of the island under Toussaint's control.”
 * On December 14 George Washington dies. On hearing the news, Toussaint Louverture orders Saint-Domingue flags to be flown at half-mast.
 * On December 25 Napoléon Bonaparte issues a Proclamation on Saint Domingue