Some small notes dealing with the Haitian navy in early 19th century

Thanks to the internet and digitalizing it’s become possible to read rare books which are not available at the local, regional or even national libraries. With use of books.google.nl I found some books which give some information about the Haitian navy. Surprisingly there was a quite of lot of personnel on the payroll, even a rear-admiral but hardly any vessels!

According to The London Magazine (1829): The navy of Haiti consist merely in a few gunboats as coast-guards. The officers, as given in the National Almanac of 1828, consisted of one Rear Admiral, nine Captains of coastguards of the first class with the rank of Colonels; nine of the second class with the rank of Commanders of battalions; thirteen Lieutenants with the rank of captain; seventeen Ensigns of vessels with the rank of Lieutenant, and nineteen Midshipmen with the rank of Sub-Lieutenants. The administration of the marine is in charge of a superintendent of the fleet and six victualling officers. The principal ports open to foreign commerce have a chief harbour-master and deputy; the secondary ports a chief harbour-master only. The principal ports are Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes, Jaunel, Jeremy, Cape Haitien, Les Gonaives, and St. Domingo; the secondary ports are Port Plate and Samana”.

According to The United Service Journal (1829: “The “Personnel” of the Haïtian Marine consisted, in 1827, of a rear-admiral, eighteen captains of gardes-côtes, thirteen lieutenants, seventeen ensigns, and nineteen pupils. Their Material consists only of a few loop-holes for the coast guard”.

Charles Mackenzie (1830) wrote: “The naval appointments are not very numerous. Besides the president, who is high admiral, there is one vice-admiral, Panayoty, ten captains of the first class, nine of the second, besides lieutenants, ensigns, and “élèves de marine”. The majority of these officers are employed at the open ports, where the whole police and management is entrusted to them. As well as I recollect, the squadron consisted of a few schooners (not, I believe, exceeding three or four), which were employed in moving round the coast, transporting troops and provisions”.

According to the Encyclopaedia America (1836) there were in 1830 a few gunboats and guard-costas.

Sources

The United Service Journal and Naval and Military magazine, 1829, part I, p. 246. London.

The London Magazine, third series, vol. III, the Journal of facts, January-June, 1829, p. 115. London.

Charles Mackenzie. Notes on Haiti, made during a residence in that republic, vol II, p. 204. London 1830.

Encyclopaedia America. A Popular Dictionary of Arts, Science, Literature, History, Politics and Biography, Vol IX, p. 186. Philadelphia, 1836.