1812 (Professionalization of the Haytian Navy): The sudden creation of a national navy transformed the Haytian people into a “new people in the history of na…

1812 (Professionalization of the Haytian Navy): The sudden creation of a national navy transformed the Haytian people into a “new people in the history of navigation” within a remarkably short period. Sailors who had previously only operated in coastal waters were trained to navigate “ships of three masts” using the modern technology of the compass. This naval force was able to “cruise in the most stormy latitudes” and surmount the fury of oceanic storms that had previously limited the colony’s reach. The presence of the Haytian flag on the open sea caused “surprise and admiration” among foreign observers and maritime powers. By wresting the “empire of the seas” from the insurgents, the King secured the kingdom’s coastlines and commercial interests.