William D. Coleman
Encyclopedia
William David Coleman was an American
born Liberia
n politician. A True Whig
Party member, he was the 13th President of Liberia, serving from 1896 to 1900. Immigrating to Liberia in 1853, he worked his way up to election to the House of Representatives
and served as Speaker of the House. Later he served in the Senate
and then as Vice President before assuming the Presidency when Joseph James Cheeseman
died in office.
, United States and emigrated to Liberia
with his family when he was 11 years old. Arriving in 1853, the family consisted of William, his now widowed mother, and three others, all settling in Clay-Ashland
near Monrovia
. Coleman was trained as a carpenter and had other manual labor jobs before becoming a successful trader. Studying at night, he picked up the education he had abandoned as a child when poverty had prevented further schooling.
, and became the Speaker of the House. Two years later Coleman was elected as a Senator for the same county. He remained in the Liberian Senate until he was elected Vice President under Joseph James Cheeseman
on the True Whig
ticket in 1892. They were re-elected twice to the two-year presidential term, and Coleman became president when President Cheeseman died in office in 1896.
to re-open Liberia College in Monrovia. Other decisions included increasing the national government's power over the interior sections of the country, reorganizing the customs
service, and attempts to further advance resource extraction. Coleman was successful in establishing control over the interior region north and west of the Saint Paul River
.
citizens opposed his execution of polices concerning the interior lands and people. After a falling out with political allies and his own cabinet over his policies placed more pressure on his administration, he resigned from office in December 1900. Coleman's successor was his Secretary of State, Garreston W. Gibson, since the Vice President had already died in office. Under existing succession laws Robert H. Marshall was set to become the President as Speaker of the House, but others felt he was unsuited for the position. The National Legislature then repealed the 1873 succession law and placed Gibson in the office of President.
at the age of 66. His son, Samuel David Coleman, was also involved in politics and was killed by government forces on June 27, 1955, after a failed coup.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born 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...
n politician. A True Whig
True Whig
The True Whig Party, also known as Liberian Whig Party, is the oldest political party in Liberia. Founded in 1869, the party dominated Liberian politics from 1878 until 1980 to the extent that the country was virtually a one-party state, although opposition parties were never outlawed...
Party member, he was the 13th President of Liberia, serving from 1896 to 1900. Immigrating to Liberia in 1853, he worked his way up to election to the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Liberia
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.-Candidate eligibility:...
and served as Speaker of the House. Later he served in the Senate
Senate of Liberia
The Senate of Liberia is the upper house of the bicameral legislative branch of Liberia, and together with the House of Representatives comprises the Legislature of Liberia...
and then as Vice President before assuming the Presidency when Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman was the 12th President of Liberia. He was born in Edina, Grand Bassa County, Liberia and was elected three times on the True Whig ticket...
died in office.
Early life
Coleman was born in Fayette County, KentuckyFayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
, United States and emigrated to 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...
with his family when he was 11 years old. Arriving in 1853, the family consisted of William, his now widowed mother, and three others, all settling in Clay-Ashland
Clay-Ashland
Clay-Ashland is a township located from the capital city of Monrovia in Liberia. The town is in the St. Paul River District of Montserrado County...
near Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
. Coleman was trained as a carpenter and had other manual labor jobs before becoming a successful trader. Studying at night, he picked up the education he had abandoned as a child when poverty had prevented further schooling.
Political career
In 1877, he was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Montserrado CountyMontserrado County
Montserrado County is a county in the northwestern 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 four districts. Bensonville serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the smallest...
, and became the Speaker of the House. Two years later Coleman was elected as a Senator for the same county. He remained in the Liberian Senate until he was elected Vice President under Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman was the 12th President of Liberia. He was born in Edina, Grand Bassa County, Liberia and was elected three times on the True Whig ticket...
on the True Whig
True Whig
The True Whig Party, also known as Liberian Whig Party, is the oldest political party in Liberia. Founded in 1869, the party dominated Liberian politics from 1878 until 1980 to the extent that the country was virtually a one-party state, although opposition parties were never outlawed...
ticket in 1892. They were re-elected twice to the two-year presidential term, and Coleman became president when President Cheeseman died in office in 1896.
Presidency (1896-1900)
Cheeseman was the first President of Liberia to die in office, with his death late in 1896. Coleman finished Cheeseman's term and then won a full term in the office as well as re-election. William Coleman centered his policies on three cornerstones: education, finances, and interior policy. As part of this policy he worked with Dr. Edward Wilmot BlydenEdward Wilmot Blyden
Edward Wilmot Blyden was an Americo-Liberian educator, writer, diplomat, and politician primarily in Liberia. He also taught for five years in Sierra Leone, and his writings were influential in both countries....
to re-open Liberia College in Monrovia. Other decisions included increasing the national government's power over the interior sections of the country, reorganizing the customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
service, and attempts to further advance resource extraction. Coleman was successful in establishing control over the interior region north and west of the Saint Paul River
Saint Paul River
The Saint Paul River is a river of western Africa. Its headwaters are in southeastern Guinea. Its upper portion in Guinea is known as the Diani River or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia. The river then enters Liberia about north of Gbarnga and crosses...
.
Opposition, resignation
Increasingly, fellow Americo-LiberianAmerico-Liberian
Americo-Liberians are a Liberian ethnicity of African American descent. The sister ethnic group of Americo Liberians are the Sierra Leone Creole people who are of African American, West Indian, and liberated African descent...
citizens opposed his execution of polices concerning the interior lands and people. After a falling out with political allies and his own cabinet over his policies placed more pressure on his administration, he resigned from office in December 1900. Coleman's successor was his Secretary of State, Garreston W. Gibson, since the Vice President had already died in office. Under existing succession laws Robert H. Marshall was set to become the President as Speaker of the House, but others felt he was unsuited for the position. The National Legislature then repealed the 1873 succession law and placed Gibson in the office of President.
Later years
After resigning from the Presidency, Coleman continued to be an active player in Liberian politics. He ran for president three more times (1901, 1903 and 1905) as a member of the People’s Party, losing each election. William David Coleman died in 1908 in Clay-AshlandClay-Ashland
Clay-Ashland is a township located from the capital city of Monrovia in Liberia. The town is in the St. Paul River District of Montserrado County...
at the age of 66. His son, Samuel David Coleman, was also involved in politics and was killed by government forces on June 27, 1955, after a failed coup.