Estimé, Dumarsais (1900–1953)

Haitian populist politician, president 1946–50. Elected as president by the National Assembly after a military coup removed the dictatorial Élie Lescot, he implemented a populist-nationalist programme, which included banning foreign ownership of land, expansion of education, legalization of trade unions, press freedom, promotion of tourism, and encouragement of the practice of voodoo. In 1950 he was deposed in a coup by Major Paul Eugene Magloire, after declaring martial law and attempting to lift the ban on the re-election of presidents. He fled to the USA, where he died in exile.

His election as president represented a return to power for the country's black political elite, after 31 years of dominance by the mulatto (mixed ethnic) elite. In the 1960s he was declared a national hero posthumously by Francois Duvalier, in whose administration his widow and son served.

Orphaned at a young age, Estimé was raised by an uncle who was a member of the Haitian Senate. He became a mathematics teacher and taught Duvalier. In 1930 he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and, as education secretary under President Sténio Vincent, he initially made his mark in reforming higher education.