Étienne Polverel

Étienne Polverel - French Colonial Commissioner
Étienne Polverel (also Polvérel) [sometimes erroneously spelled Polveral] (1742 Beam, France - April 6, 1795 Paris, France) – Arrived in Le Cap aboard the America as a Civil Commissioner to Saint-Domingue on September 17], 1792, along with Léger Félicité Sonthonax and Jean-Antoine Ailhaud. (Dubois, p. 142) Polverel was given charge of the West, and when Ailhaud abandoned his post, he took responsibility for the South as well. (Fick, p. 315 n3)

When Polverel's son was seized as a hostage, General Galbaud proposed to exchange the boy for the general's brother, César Galbaud, who had been taken prisoner by the Commissioners. (Heinl, p. 56)  Polverel replied: "I adore my son, but he cannot be exchanged for the life of a traitor.  Please do not refer to this matter again." (Parkinson, p. 68)

Polverel followed his fellow commisioners Sonthonax August 29, 1793 proclamation abolishing slavery in the North of Saint-Domingue (French text) two weeks later, in September 1793, by a similar decree, thus abolishing slavery in the rest of the colony.

Polverel and Toussaint Louverture
On the 20th of July, 1795, Polverel wrote him [ Toussaint Louverture ] these lines: "We do not think you a traitor, but you show not the courage of a republican. If you do not feel strength enough to die rather than yield, say so frankly. We can easily find citizens who make no account of death, when the honor of their country is at stake." (Beard p. 69)

The Trial of Polverel
Étienne Polverel was a lawyer, and was appointed a French public prosecutor in 1791. He died in April 1795, shortly after the beginning of a trial in which he and Sonthonax were accused by white colonists of treasonous activities in Saint-Domingue. The long trial ended in August, and the Commissioners were exonerated of this charge.