Stephen Allen Benson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Stephen Allen Benson
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| In office January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1864 |
|
| Vice President | Beverley Yates |
| Preceded by | Joseph Jenkins Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Bashiel Warner |
|
|
|
| Born | May 21, 1816 Cambridge, Maryland, United States |
| Died | January 24, 1865 Grand Bassa County, Liberia |
| Political party | None |
Stephen Allen Benson (May 21, 1816 – January 241865) served as President of Liberia from 1856 to 1864.
Benson was born in Cambridge, Maryland, United States, to freeborn African American parents.[1] In 1822, his family expatriated to the newly created country of Liberia, on the ship Brig Strong.[2] Shortly after his arrival in August 1822, the colony was taken over by African natives, holding Benson and his relatives captives for four months.
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 in 1835 and in 1842 became a delegate to the Colonial Council. After Liberia's independence in 1847 he became a judge. He was also a Methodist preacher.
Contents |
[edit] Presidency (1856-64)
In 1853 Benson became the vice president to Joseph Jenkins Roberts, and after Roberts left office in 1856 Benson succeeded Roberts as president.
[edit] Foreign relations
Benson obtained the recognition of Liberia from Belgium in 1858. In 1862 Benson also achieved diplomatic recognition from the United States. That same year he visited Europe, and obtained recognition from Italy. Norway and Sweden recognized Liberia either in 1863 or 1849, Haiti in 1864 or 1849 (accounts differ).
[edit] Expansion; relations with indigenous people
In 1857 Benson organized the annexation of Republic of Maryland. Benson, who knew many indigenous languages, sought collaboration with the native tribes, in contrast to previous Liberian policy, which emphasized American-Liberian superiority and Western customs. Regrettably, this new policy remained largely unimplemented. By 1860, through treaties and purchases with local African leaders, Liberia had extended its boundaries to include a 600 mile (1000 km) coastline.
[edit] Closed Door Policy; tribal uprising
English merchants, supported by their government, refused to acknowledge the political sovereignty of Liberia and evaded the import and export duties to a large extent. This refusal on the part of European merchants was one of the reasons which motivated the Liberians to partially close the country to foreigners. The 1864 “Ports of Entry” Law limited international trade activities to the main six ports along the coast, and heralded the era of a Closed Door Policy. This protective policy was also based on the desire to safeguard the economic interests of the political leaders. The Ports of Entry Law added another reason for the inland and coastal tribal population to rise against the authority of the Monrovia-based government.
[edit] Finances
Whereas government revenue decreased as a result of the restrictive law, increased military spending to suppress the numerous revolts and wars added to the public deficit. This deteriorated an already precarious financial situation. Consequently, the Liberian Government faced financial bankruptcy on more than one occasion.
[edit] Retirement
After the end of his presidency Benson retired to his coffee plantation in Grand Bassa County where he died in 1865.
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- see also History of Liberia, external links
| Preceded by Unknown |
Vice-President of Liberia 1853–1856 |
Succeeded by Beverley Yates |
| Preceded by Joseph Jenkins Roberts |
President of Liberia 1856–1864 |
Succeeded by Daniel Bashiel Warner |
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
This article about a Liberian politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
