Pierre Toussaint
| Venerable Pierre Toussaint | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Philanthropist, Layman | |
| Born |
27 June 1766 Saint-Marc, Artibonite, Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) |
| Died | 30 June 1853 (aged 87) New York City, New York, United States of America |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | St. Patrick's Cathedral |
The Venerable Pierre Toussaint (27 June 1766 – June 30, 1853) was a former slave from the French colony of Saint-Domingue who was brought to New York City by his owners in 1787. There he eventually gained his freedom and became a noted philanthropist to the poor of the city. Freed in 1807 after the death of his mistress, Pierre took the surname of "Toussaint" in honor of the hero of the Haitian Revolution which established that nation.
After his marriage in 1811 to Juliette Noel, Toussaint and his wife performed many charitable works. Among those works included opening their home as an orphanage, employment bureau, and a refuge for travelers. He contributed funds and helped raise money to build Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Mulberry Street. He was considered "one of the leading black New Yorkers of his day." His ghostwritten memoir was published in 1854.
Due to his devout and exemplary life, the Roman Catholic Church has been investigating his life for possible canonization and in 1996 he was declared "Venerable" by Pope John Paul II, the second step in the process. Toussaint is the first layperson to be buried in the crypt below the main altar of Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, normally reserved for bishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
Born on June 27, 1766 in modern-day Haiti, Pierre Toussaint was born a slave. Pierre was the son of Ursule at the Artibonite plantation, and owned by the Bérard family. The plantation was located on the Artibonite River near Saint-Marc on the colony's west coast. His father's name is not known. He was known to have a sister Rosalie. His maternal grandmother, Zenobe Julien, was also a slave and was later freed by the Bérards for her service to the family. His maternal great-grandmother, Tonette, had been born in Africa, where she was sold into slavery and brought to Saint-Domingue. He was reared as a Catholic.
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