Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as "Baby Doc," a former, and controversial, leader of Haiti before being deposed, died Saturday at age 63.

Duvalier was "president for life" of one of the world's poorest nations, Haiti, following the footsteps of his father, Dr. Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. The elder Duvalier became president in 1956, eventually turning his security network of the Tontons Macoutes into a feared militia designed to spread terror and maintain his hold to office. He was "elected" president for life in 1964.

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As the first president for life, Papa Doc turned Haiti into a police state. Baby Doc grew up a carefree playboy with no particular interest in politics. He partied with the elite on his million-dollar yacht and was known for tooling around the island nation on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Papa Doc suffered heart problems and arranged for Baby Doc to succeed him as president for life in a February 1971 election won by the younger Duvalier by an announced vote of 2,391,916 to none. The elder Duvalier died in on April 21, 1971.

While many predicted Duvalier wouldn't last long as Haitian leader, he doubled down on his father's terror tactics while also opening up the country to tourism and business interests. Thousands of Haitians were slaughtered and many more tortured under his rule, human rights advocates said.

Duvalier continued the family tradition of looting the nation's treasury as its people fell further into the grip of poverty. Haiti became the poster child for AIDS in the 1980s as well as a major cocaine trafficking hot spot.

Thousands of Haitian residents became "boat people" seeking to escape by sea to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. AIDS and terror also derailed Duvalier's efforts to promote tourism and business.

Riots and chaos eventually led military leaders to force Duvalier from office in February 1986. He fled with his family to the U.S. with millions of dollars stashed in Swiss bank accounts and boatloads of luxury items. He continued denying any wrongdoing while in exile.

Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake in January 2010. A frail Duvalier returned in January 2011, much to the shock of Haitians. He promptly was arrested on embezzlement and other charges. While never brought to court on the charges, he lived in an upscale Port-au-Prince hotel until his death Saturday.

TagsBaby Doc, Jean-Claude Duvalier, papa doc, Francois Duvalier, tontons macoutes, voodoo, AIDS, politics