One of the Leaders in the Haitian Revolution, Henri Christophe is mostly known for the construction of the Citadelle Laferriere and the Sans Souci Palace.

Son of a freeman from the island of Grenada, Henri Christophe became a slave in the North of Haiti, in the region where he built his Sans Souci Palace and the giant fort of Citadelle Laferriere that dominates the entire north region of Haiti.

As a slave, Henri Christophe did not spend a long time doing field work. He held positions in construction and as sailor. At one point, History reported that he managed a Hotel in Cap-Francais. There is a rumor that the Hotel is now named Hotel Roi Henri Christophe and located in cap-Haitian, at Rue 24 B-C.

With experiences acquired dealing with the high society of Slave Masters and Afranchi in Saint Domingue, Henri Christophe was able to transfer these skills to his military career and to post revolution.

Henri Christophe was a military officer under Toussaint L'Ouverture and participated in several battles against the French, Spanish and British forces. It is reported that Henry Christophe served in the French Army as well at one point. He was enlisted to fight during the American revolution as a drummer in the "Chasseurs- Volontaires" force and fought at the Siege of Savannah, a series of campaigns from September 16, 1779 to October 18, 1779 intended to recapture the town from Great Britain.

The "Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue", an estimated 500 men of African descent,  was a volunteer regiment made up of ten companies of light infantry (chasseurs) to fight in the American Revolution.

In 1791, the slave in Saint Domingue revolted, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe. By January 1804, the slaves defeated an army sent by Napoleon Bonaparte, established independence from France, and renamed the area Haiti. Jean-Jacques Dessalines became the president of the newly created republic of Haiti.

After the assassination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, two separate regimes emerged. Henri Christophe was elected president of Haiti. But because of conflicts with the followers of Alexandre Petion in the South, he moved to Plaine du Nord and created a separate government.

In 1811 Henry Christophe made the northern region of Haiti a kingdom, and was ordained King. Subsequently, he renamed Cap-Francais, Cap-Henri; now it is named Cap-Haitien. He also named his son Jacques-Victor Henry, heir apparent with the title Prince Royal of Haiti.

Henri Christophe built the Sans Souci Palace that was wrecked by the 1842 earthquake. He also built the Citadelle Laferriere, still considered one of the wonders of the region.

Ill and infirm at age fifty-three, King Henry shot himself with a silver bullet. He was buried somewhere inside the Citadelle Laferriere. The country was once again unified in 1820.

Pierre Nord Alexis, was President of Haiti from December 21, 1902 to December 2, 1908, President of Haiti from 1902–1908, was Christophe's grandson