Brief History of Liberia
The presence and population of freed African American Survivors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade were beginning to pose a problem for the slave industry in the United States of America. Therefore, the American Colonization Society and the United States Government established a colony now known as the Republic of Liberia, in West Africa, December 15, 1821, per the Ducor Contract. The first survivors landed on Dozoa Island, renamed Providence, on January 7, 1822 and on July 26, 1847, the settlers declared independence, becoming the first and only African democracy in Africa.
African American Presidents of Liberia
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
First and Seventh African American President of Liberia,
1848 - 1856 and 1872 - 1876
Born March 15, 1809,
Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Stephen Allen Benson
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
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Second African American President of Liberia, 1856 - 1864.
Born May 21, 1816, Dorchestor County, Maryland, USA.
Daniel Bashiel Warner
Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Daniel Bashiel Warner
Third African American President of Liberia, 1864 - 1868
Born 1815, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
James Spriggs Payne
James Skivring Smith
Daniel Bashiel Warner
Fourth African American President of Liberia, 1868 - 1870 and 1876 - 1878. Born October 15, 1819, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Edward James Roye
James Skivring Smith
James Skivring Smith
Fifth African American President of Liberia,1870 - 1871. Born February 3, 1815, Newark, Ohio, USA.
James Skivring Smith
James Skivring Smith
James Skivring Smith
Sixth African American President of Liberia. 1871 - 1872. Born February 26, 1825, Charleston, South Carolina, US
Anthony William Gardner
Anthony William Gardner
Anthony William Gardner
Seventh African American President of Liberia. 1878 - 1883, Born January 24, 1820, Southampton County, Virginia, USA
Alfred Francis Russell
Anthony William Gardner
Anthony William Gardner
Eight African American President of Liberia, 1883 - 1884. Born August 25, 1817, Lexington Kentucky, USA
William David Coleman
Garretson Wilmot Gibson
Garretson Wilmot Gibson
Ninth African American President of Liberia, 1896 - 1900. Born July 18, 1842, Fayette County, Kentucky, USA
Garretson Wilmot Gibson
Garretson Wilmot Gibson
Garretson Wilmot Gibson
Tenth African American President of Liberia, 1900-1904. Born May 30, 1831, Talbot County, Maryland, USA
some of the AFRICAN LEADERS WHO MADE LIBERIA POSSIBLe
CHIEF BOB GRAY
CHIEF YELLOW WILL (WILLIAM HALL)
KING SAO BOSO (BOATSWAIN)
Bob Gray, from Grand Bassa County, welcomed the new settlers to Edina and other settlements, was a good friend and provided protection when ever there were conflicts with the Tribes.
KING SAO BOSO (BOATSWAIN)
CHIEF YELLOW WILL (WILLIAM HALL)
KING SAO BOSO (BOATSWAIN)
King Sao Boso was an esteemed leader who aided the settlers when there was friction with the tribes.
CHIEF YELLOW WILL (WILLIAM HALL)
CHIEF YELLOW WILL (WILLIAM HALL)
CHIEF YELLOW WILL (WILLIAM HALL)
Fluent in English, worked with Maryland Governors James Hall and John Russwurm as interpreter and agent.
King Momolu Sao
King Peter Zolo Duma
King Peter Zolo Duma
Good friend of the settlers. Explorer Benjamin J.K. Anderson and Edward Blyden visited his domain.
King Peter Zolo Duma
King Peter Zolo Duma
King Peter Zolo Duma
King Peter Zolo Duma agreed to sell the original land on the island of Dozoa,to the American Colonization Society for the settlement. The island was renamed Providence Island.
Chief Simlah Ballah
King Peter Zolo Duma
Chief Simlah Ballah
Fluent in English, served as interpreter and spokesman for King Freeman of Cape Mount. Traveled to USA and addressed the board of the American Colonization Society.
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
She was the favorite wife of King Arma of Grand Cape Mount County, leader of the Vai Tribe.
N' DAMBA
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
N'Damba, of the Kissi tribe, married to an English merchant, they had a son named James Cleveland.
Prince Abdul Rahhahman
Queen Famata Bendu Sandemani
Prince Abdul Rahhahman
His father was the founder of Timbo, capital of the Futu Jalon Kingdom. Sold into slavery but returned by the American Colonization Society. He went to Liberia on the Harriet with J.J. Roberts and J.S. Payne, two future presidents of Liberia.