"Pierre Toussaint" {1776- June 30, 1853}

Businessman, philanthropist, and candidate, for canonization Pierre Toussaint was probably born in Haiti in 1766, the slave of a planter, Jean (prounce John) Bearard.Pierre, a house servant,was

looked upon affectionately by the Berards and treated as a member of the family.His grandmother taught him to read and his master permitted him use of the home library. In 1787,during the early stages of slave revolt, the Berards fled Haiti to go to New York City,taking Pierre and his sister with them. He remained loyal to his masters throughout the unrest and rebellion. After arriving in New York, he was apprenticed to a hairdresser,and, while still a slave, was able to set up a successful business of his own.His services were desired by many of the wealthiest and most distinguished women in the city. As a hairdresser.He earned enough to became quite wealthy and to support his mistress after his master died.He had the means to purchase his own freedom, he chose to remain with his mistress even after she remarried.In 1809, on her deayhbedMadame Berard granted him his freedom.Pierre loyalty did not end with his manumission,he continued to support Madame Berard's daughter for several years.With his considerable wealth he was able to purchase the freedom of his sister,Rosalie,and his future wife,Juliette Noel,in 1811.Three years later he purchased the freedom of his niece,Euphemia, and cared for and educated her. Following Euphemia's death of tuberculosis in 1829, the grief-stricken Pierre turned to benevolent activities.He had been a devout Roman Catholic since, he was a child,and after arriving in New York he attended mass every day for sixty-six years at Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church in lower Manhattan.He was the most notable black layperson in the antebellum Roman Catholic Church in New York City. The kindhearted Pierre was also generous and charitable. He and his wife took black orphans into their home and raised money in support of the Catholic Orphan Aslum for white children.In 1841 he was the first person to responf to the request of Monsignor de Forbin-Jasson for donations to erect a Roman Catholic Church for French speakers (now Saint Vincent de Paul's) with what was then a considerable contribution of one hundred dollars. When he died he was buried beside his wife in Saint Patrick's Cemetery.