James Skivring Smith
Encyclopedia
James Skivring Smith served as the 6th President of Liberia from 1871 to 1872. Prior to this, he served as the 8th Vice President of Liberia from 1870 to 1871 under President Edward James Roye
and as Secretary of State from 1856 to 1860 in the cabinet of President Stephen Allen Benson
.
Smith was born in Charleston, South Carolina
on February 26, 1825, the fourth of seven children of free blacks Carlos and Catharine Smith. He and his family arrived in Liberia
in 1833, and his parents died of malaria
within one year of their arrival. After working with a white doctor of the American Colonization Society
, Smith returned to the United States to study medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
. He transferred to the Berkshire Medical Center
in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
, from which he received his medical degree
in 1848. Smith was the first African American
to receive a medical degree. He then returned to the newly-independent Liberia, working for the ACS as a doctor.
Smith served as Secretary of State from 1856 to 1860 and was later elected as a senator from Grand Bassa County
from 1868 to 1870. In the 1869 presidential election
, Smith was elected vice president under President Edward James Roye
. The two were the first True Whig politicians to hold their respective offices. On October 26, 1871, President Roye was forcibly removed from office after unconstitutionally extending his term, leading Smith to serve the remaining two months of Roye's term as president. Smith's tenure as president remains the shortest in Liberian history. After stepping down as president, Smith returned to Buchanan
and served as Superintendent of Grand Bassa County from 1874 to 1884.
Smith's son James Skivring Smith, Jr.
later became a successful politician in Liberia, also serving as Superintendent of Grand Bassa County and as vice president from 1930 to 1944.
Edward James Roye
Edward James Roye served as the fifth President of Liberia from 1870 to his overthrow and subsequent violent death in 1871. He had previously served as the 4th Chief Justice of Liberia from 1865 until 1868...
and as Secretary of State from 1856 to 1860 in the cabinet of 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....
.
Smith was 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...
on February 26, 1825, the fourth of seven children of free blacks Carlos and Catharine Smith. He and his family arrived in Liberia
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...
in 1833, and his parents died of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
within one year of their arrival. After working with a white doctor of the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
, Smith returned to the United States to study medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
The University of Vermont College of Medicine is an American medical school located in Burlington, Vermont and associated with the University of Vermont . Established in 1822, it is the nation's seventh oldest medical school...
. He transferred to the Berkshire Medical Center
Berkshire Medical Center
Berkshire Medical Center is a private, non-profit 302-bed community teaching hospital in Pittsfield, Massachusetts affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.-History:...
in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
, from which he received his medical degree
Medical degree
A medical degree is, broadly defined, any academic degree which places its holder in a position to engage in the practice of medicine. BBC has reported that Medicine related degree programs such as MBBS, BDS and PharmD are the most difficult degree programs of all the other Bachelor degree programs...
in 1848. Smith was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to receive a medical degree. He then returned to the newly-independent Liberia, working for the ACS as a doctor.
Smith served as Secretary of State from 1856 to 1860 and was later elected as a senator from Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
from 1868 to 1870. In the 1869 presidential election
Liberian general election, 1869
Presidential elections were held in Liberia in 1869. The result was a victory for Edward James Roye of the True Whig Party. Roye took office on 3 January 1870....
, Smith was elected vice president under President Edward James Roye
Edward James Roye
Edward James Roye served as the fifth President of Liberia from 1870 to his overthrow and subsequent violent death in 1871. He had previously served as the 4th Chief Justice of Liberia from 1865 until 1868...
. The two were the first True Whig politicians to hold their respective offices. On October 26, 1871, President Roye was forcibly removed from office after unconstitutionally extending his term, leading Smith to serve the remaining two months of Roye's term as president. Smith's tenure as president remains the shortest in Liberian history. After stepping down as president, Smith returned to Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
and served as Superintendent of Grand Bassa County from 1874 to 1884.
Smith's son James Skivring Smith, Jr.
James Skivring Smith, Jr.
James Skivring Smith, Jr. was a Liberian politician who served as the 21st Vice President of Liberia from 1930 to 1944 under President Edwin Barclay. Prior to this, Smith served as superintendent of Grand Bassa County from 1924 to 1927. Smith was elected as vice president in a special election...
later became a successful politician in Liberia, also serving as Superintendent of Grand Bassa County and as vice president from 1930 to 1944.