PETION, Alexander (pay-se-ong), president of Hayti, born in Port au Prince, 2 April, 1770; died there, 29 March, 1818. He was the son of a colonist named Sabes and a mulatto woman. His father was wealthy and gave him a good education. He rose to the rank of adjutant-general during the civil war in the island, and after the evacuation of Santo Domingo by the English in 1798 he supported General Rigaud in his opposition to Toussaint l'Ouverture, and won reputation by his defence of Jacmel. When Rigaud was forced to quit the island in 1800, Petion accompanied him to France, but he returned with Gem Leclerc in 1802, with the rank of colonel. His prudent counsels were disregarded by Leclerc, and at last he abandoned the French ranks in October, 1802, with such of his compatriots as were able to escape, and took service under Henry Christophe, and later under Dessalines. After the murder of the latter in 1806, at which time Petion was commander of Port au Prince, the hostility of President Christophe to the mulattoes excited fears in the south and west, and Petion was chosen president of that part of the island, 10 March, 1807. Civil war was renewed in consequence, and Christophe invaded Potion's dominions, but without success. From the beginning of his presidency Petion opened his ports to all nations and granted security and protection to Frenchmen engaged in commercial pursuits. The civil war and the administration of Dessalines had exhausted the finances, but Petion paid all debts, and the commercial and agricultural prosperity that ensued gained for |him the title of the father of his country. In 1815 he was re-elected president for life, with power to nominate his successor. In the following year the government of Louis XVIII. opened certain negotiations with him, but he refused all arrangements to which the recognition of the independence of Hayti was not a preliminary. In the same year he assisted the expedition of Simon Bolivar to Venezuela, which brought about the liberation of that country, and in return only asked for the abolition of slavery. in the latter part of his administration the finances again became involved, and the government was compelled to debase the coinage. Petion fell into hypochondria, fancying that he was in danger of assassination, and finally, refusing nourishment, died. His funeral took place amid imposing religious solemnities, and the senate ordered a mausoleum to be erected to his memory, but his remains were later transported to Pere la Chaise cemetery in Paris, where a magnificent monument now marks his resting-place.