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Stephen Allen Benson

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Stephen Allen Benson
2nd President of Liberia
In office
January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1864
Vice PresidentBeverly Page Yates
Daniel Bashiel Warner
Preceded byJoseph Jenkins Roberts
Succeeded byDaniel Bashiel Warner
3rd Vice President of Liberia
In office
January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
PresidentJoseph Jenkins Roberts
Preceded byAnthony D. Williams
Succeeded byBeverly Page Yates
Personal details
Born(1816-05-21)May 21, 1816
Cambridge, Maryland, United States
DiedJanuary 24, 1865(1865-01-24) (aged 48)
Grand Bassa County, Liberia
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Nancy Moore
(m. 1841)

Stephen Allen Benson (May 21, 1816 – January 24, 1865) was a Liberian politician who served as the second president of Liberia from 1856 to 1864. Prior to that, he served as the third vice president of Liberia from 1854 to 1856 under President Joseph Jenkins Roberts. Born in the United States, Benson was the first president to have lived in Liberia since childhood, having arrived with his family in 1822.

Early life

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Benson was born in Cambridge, Maryland, United States, to freeborn African-American parents.[1][2] In 1822, his family emigrated to the newly established country of Liberia, sailing aboard the Brig Strong.[3]

For four years, he was a military shopkeeper. He was also a private secretary to Thomas Buchanan, the last of Liberia's white governors. Benson later became a successful businessman. Benson joined the militia[4] in 1835.[citation needed] Benson married Nancy Moore in 1841.[5] In 1842 he became a delegate to the Colonial Council. After Liberia's independence in 1847 he became a judge. He was also a Methodist preacher. Benson was the Secretary of the Treasury before becoming the president.[4]

Presidency (1856–64)

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In 1853 Benson became the vice president to Joseph Jenkins Roberts, serving in that capacity until winning the presidency in the 1855 elections, taking office the following year.

Foreign relations

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Benson obtained diplomatic recognition for Liberia from Belgium in 1858, Denmark in 1860, the United States and Italy in 1862, Norway and Sweden in 1863, and Haiti in 1864.[6]

Expansion

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In 1857, Benson organized the annexation of the Republic of Maryland. By 1860, through treaties and purchases with local African leaders, Liberia had extended its boundaries to include a 600-mile (1000km) coastline.

Retirement

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After the end of his presidency Benson retired to his coffee plantation in Grand Bassa County where he died in 1865.

Legacy

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Benson is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of lizard, Trachylepis bensonii, which is endemic to Liberia.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ American Colonization Society, "The African Repository: The Death Of Ex-President Benson"
  2. ^ Message from the President of the States, communicating (In compliance with a resolution of the Senate) information relative to the operations of the United States squadron on the west coast of Africa, the condition of the American colonies there, and the commerce of the United States therewith. February 28, 1845., "List of Emigrants: Strong"
  3. ^ Roll Of Emigrants That Have Been Sent To The Colony Of Liberia Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b Dunn, Elwood D.; Beyan, Amos J.; Burrowes, Carl Patrick (20 December 2000). Historical Dictionary of Liberia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781461659310.
  5. ^ "Stephen Allen Benson, Second President of Liberia". Liberia Today. 1 (8). Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in the United States: 4. April 1952. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Elwood D. Dunn, Amos J. Beyan, Carl Patrick Burrowes. Historical Dictionary of Liberia. p. 38
  7. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Benson", p. 23).

Further reading

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Political offices
Preceded by Vice President of Liberia
1853–1856
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Liberia
1856–1864
Succeeded by