William V. S. Tubman (November 29, 1895 – July 23, 1971) was a Liberian politician who served as the 19th president of Liberia from 1944 to 1971. He was the longest serving president in the history of Liberia and is often seen as the greatest president in Liberian history.
Childhood and Education (1895-1917)
Tubman was born on November 29, 1895, in Maryland County, which is located in Southeastern Liberia. His parents were the descendents of African slaves who migrated to Liberia from the U.S. state of Georgia.
Tubman’s childhood was not the best. His father used strict discipline against Tubman and his four siblings. Tubman’s father also made his kids attend church every single day.
Tubman went to school in the village of Harper. In 1910, Tubman joined the Liberian Militia at just 15 years old. He left the militia in 1917 and became a lawyer.
Pre-Presidency (1917-1944)
After becoming a lawyer, William Tubman was employed as the record keeper at the Maryland County Probate Court. In 1923, Tubman was elected to the Liberian Senate. He would subsequently be re-elected to the senate in 1929 and 1934.
In 1937, Liberian president Edwin Barclay appointed Tubman to the Liberian Supreme Court as an associated justice. Tubman would serve on the bench until 1943.
1943 Presidential Election
Since president Edwin Barclay was term limited in 1943, Liberia held an election to elect his successor. The True Whig Party, which had dominated Liberian politics since 1878, nominated William Tubman for president. Since there was no strong opposition, Tubman won the election and was inaugurated on January 3, 1944.
Presidency (1944-1971)
On January 27, 1944, three weeks after Tubman’s inauguration, Liberia joined World War Two after declaring war on Germany and Japan. After war ended in 1945, Liberia became a founding member of the newly-founded United Nations.
In 1951, Liberia signed a mutual defense pact with the United States. That same year, Tubman was re-elected to a third term, which was made possible after the two-term-limit was abolished in 1949. Tubman would be re-elected in 1955, 1959, 1963, and 1967.
Death
William Tubman died on July 23, 1971, in London, England; he was 75 years old at the time of his death. After Tubman died, his vice president, William Tolbert, became president and served until being assassinated in 1980 during a coup d’état.