William David Coleman (July 18, 1842 – July 12, 1908) was a Liberian politician who served as Liberia‘s 13th president from 1896 to 1900. He became president after the death of Joseph J. Cheeseman.
Early Life
William David Coleman was born into slavery on July 18, 1842, in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1853, at the age of eleven, Coleman and his widowed mother emigrated to Liberia, settling down in the town of Clay-Ashland, which is near the Liberian capital; Monrovia.
Political Career
In 1877, Coleman was elected to the Liberian House of Representatives, representing Montserrado County. That same year, he became the Speaker of the House. Later, in 1879, Coleman was elected to the Liberian Senate, serving in the Senate until 1892.
Vice Presidency
In 1892, the True Whig Party nominated Coleman as vice president alongside Joseph J. Cheeseman. They would be re-elected in 1894 and 1896.
Presidency
In 1896, President Joseph J. Cheeseman died in office and Coleman subsequently became president of Liberia. During Coleman’s presidency, Liberia College was re-opened and the country expanded into Liberian Interior, resulting in the annexation of the lands west of the St. Paul River.
Coleman was elected to a full term in 1898, with Joseph Ross as his vice president. By 1900, Coleman was unpopular among his political allies. On December 11, 1900, Coleman resigned from the presidency. Since Vice President Joseph Ross died the previous year, G.W. Gibson, the secretary of state, became president.
Post Presidency
After his resignation, Coleman remained active in the politics of Liberia. Coleman attempted to run for president again in 1903, but lost the election to Arthur Barclay.
William Coleman died on July 12, 1908, six days shy of his 66th birthday. His son, Samuel D. Coleman was also a politician. Sam Coleman was killed by the Liberian military in 1955 after attempting a coup against president William Tubman.