Boston Jenkins Drayton
Encyclopedia
Boston Jenkins Drayton was a Liberia
n politician and Lutheran minister who served as the 3rd Chief Justice of Liberia
from 1861 until 1864. He had previously served as the final Governor of the Republic of Maryland
from 1855 until its annexation by Liberia on 18 March 1857.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
in 1821, Drayton served as the black minister at St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston under Minister John Bachman
. In 1845, Drayton was sent by Bachman to serve as a missionary in Cape Palmas
in the newly formed Republic of Maryland
. He later pursued a career in politics, becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland under Governor William A. Prout.
In December 1855, Drayton ousted Prout, who had become increasingly unpopular, and assumed the governorship, later being unanimously elected in April 1956 as the Governor of Maryland. By December of that year, relations between the American settlers and the native Grebo population had deteriorated to the point of open warfare. As Maryland had less than 1,000 settlers and had poor financing, Drayton appealed to Liberia for assistance. In response, Liberian President J. J. Roberts dispatched a force of Liberian settlers to put down the Grebo rebellion. Drayton soon negotiated the annexation of Maryland by Liberia and stepped down as governor on 18 March 1857.
Drayton was later appointed Chief Justice of Liberia
by President Stephen Allen Benson
in 1861, which he served as until stepping down in 1864. He died in 1865 as a result of an accidental drowning when his canoe capsized near Cape Palmas.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n politician and Lutheran minister who served as the 3rd Chief Justice of Liberia
Chief Justice of Liberia
The Chief Justice of Liberia is the head of the judicial branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of Liberia.-Appointment and term:...
from 1861 until 1864. He had previously served as the final Governor of the Republic of Maryland
Republic of Maryland
The Republic of Maryland was a small African American nation which existed from 1854 to 1857, when it was united into what is now Liberia....
from 1855 until its annexation by Liberia on 18 March 1857.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in 1821, Drayton served as the black minister at St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston under Minister John Bachman
John Bachman
The Rev. John Bachman was an American Lutheran minister, social activist and naturalist who collaborated with J.J. Audubon to produce Viviparous Quadrapeds of North America and whose writings, particularly Unity of the Human Race, were influential in the development of the theory of evolution. He...
. In 1845, Drayton was sent by Bachman to serve as a missionary in Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas is a headland on the extreme southeast end of the coast of Liberia, West Africa, at the extreme southwest corner of the northern half of the continent. The Cape itself consists of a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the...
in the newly formed Republic of Maryland
Republic of Maryland
The Republic of Maryland was a small African American nation which existed from 1854 to 1857, when it was united into what is now Liberia....
. He later pursued a career in politics, becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland under Governor William A. Prout.
In December 1855, Drayton ousted Prout, who had become increasingly unpopular, and assumed the governorship, later being unanimously elected in April 1956 as the Governor of Maryland. By December of that year, relations between the American settlers and the native Grebo population had deteriorated to the point of open warfare. As Maryland had less than 1,000 settlers and had poor financing, Drayton appealed to Liberia for assistance. In response, Liberian President J. J. Roberts dispatched a force of Liberian settlers to put down the Grebo rebellion. Drayton soon negotiated the annexation of Maryland by Liberia and stepped down as governor on 18 March 1857.
Drayton was later appointed Chief Justice of Liberia
Chief Justice of Liberia
The Chief Justice of Liberia is the head of the judicial branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of Liberia.-Appointment and term:...
by President Stephen Allen Benson
Stephen Allen Benson
Stephen Allen Benson served as the 2nd President of Liberia from 1856 to 1864. Prior to that, he served as the 3rd Vice President of Liberia from 1854 to 1856 under President Joseph Jenkins Roberts....
in 1861, which he served as until stepping down in 1864. He died in 1865 as a result of an accidental drowning when his canoe capsized near Cape Palmas.