1817: Simón Bolívar outfitted a fleet of vessels at the Haitian port of Cayes, manned by crews of diverse nations and colors, to support his campaigns for Ve…

1817: Simón Bolívar outfitted a fleet of vessels at the Haitian port of Cayes, manned by crews of diverse nations and colors, to support his campaigns for Venezuelan independence. Haitian leaders provided Bolívar with asylum, weapons, and sailors, recognizing a shared interest in the dismantling of Spanish colonialism. Many of the ships sailing under the Venezuelan flag during this period were actually owned and operated by Haitian citizens. This support proved crucial to the eventual success of the South American independence movements. Haiti’s role as a “nursery of liberty” for the continent fulfilled the promise of its revolutionary origins.