Stephen Allen Benson

Stephen Allen Benson
Stephen Allen Benson
2nd President of Liberia
	In office; January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1864
Vice President	Beverly Page Yates; Daniel Bashiel Warner
Preceded by	Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Succeeded by	Daniel Bashiel Warner
3rd Vice President of Liberia
	In office; January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
President	Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Preceded by	Anthony D. Williams
Succeeded by	Beverly Page Yates
Personal details
Born	May 21, 1816; Cambridge, Maryland, United States
Died	January 24, 1865 (aged 48); Grand Bassa County, Liberia
Political party	Republican
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

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)

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

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

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

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

Legacy

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

References

^ American Colonization Society, "The African Repository: The Death Of Ex-President Benson"
^ 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"
^ Roll Of Emigrants That Have Been Sent To The Colony Of Liberia Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b Dunn, Elwood D.; Beyan, Amos J.; Burrowes, Carl Patrick (20 December 2000). Historical Dictionary of Liberia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781461659310.
^ "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.
^ Elwood D. Dunn, Amos J. Beyan, Carl Patrick Burrowes. Historical Dictionary of Liberia. p. 38
^ 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).

External links

Biography
Ricks Essay
see also History of Liberia, external links
S. A. Benson, President of Liberia article in National Magazine, April 1856, pages 311-317

Political offices
Preceded by Anthony D. Williams	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

[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

[histdict-4] 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).

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