The notable figure who led the Haitian Revolution to independence was Toussaint L'Ouverture. Born into slavery in 1743, he rose to become a leader in the struggle against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. L'Ouverture played a crucial role in organizing the enslaved populace and allied with various factions during the revolution, which began in 1791. His military acumen and diplomatic skills helped establish Haiti as the first independent Black republic in 1804, following years of conflict. Although he was ultimately captured and died in French imprisonment in 1803, L'Ouverture is celebrated as a symbol of freedom and the fight against oppression.