This article lists the agents and governors of Liberia, consisting of fourteen agents and two governors of the American Colonization Society from 1822 until Liberian independence in 1847. The last governor, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, also served as the first president of Liberia after independence was gained in 1847.
The colors indicate the race of each agent or governor.
Died in office
Portrait | Name(Birth–Death) | Term of office | Race | Title | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
Cape Mesurado Colony | |||||||
1 | Eli Ayers (1778–1822) | December 15, 1821 | April 25, 1822 | 131 days | White | Colonial Agent | |
2 | Frederick James | April 25, 1822 | June 4, 1822 | 40 days | Black | ||
3 | Elijah Johnson (1789–1849) | June 4, 1822 | August 8, 1822 | 65 days | Black | ||
4 | Jehudi Ashmun (1794–1828) | August 8, 1822 | April 2, 1823 | 237 days | White | ||
(3) | Elijah Johnson (1789–1849) | April 2, 1823 | August 14, 1823 | 134 days | Black | ||
(4) | Jehudi Ashmun (1794–1828) | August 14, 1823 | August 15, 1824 | 1 year, 1 day | White | ||
Colony of Liberia | |||||||
(4) | Jehudi Ashmun (1794–1828) | August 15, 1824 | March 26, 1828 | 3 years, 224 days | White | Colonial Agent | |
5 | Lott Cary (vice-agent) (1780–1828) | March 26, 1828 | November 8, 1828 | 227 days | Black | ||
6 | Colston Waring (vice-agent) | November 8, 1828 | December 22, 1828 | 44 days | Black | ||
7 | Richard Randall (1796–1829) | December 22, 1828 | April 19, 1829 | 118 days | White | ||
8 | Joseph Mechlin Jr. (unknown–1839) | April 19, 1829 | February 27, 1830 | 314 days | White | ||
9 | John Anderson | February 27, 1830 | April 12, 1830 | 44 days | White | ||
10 | Anthony D. Williams (vice-agent) (1799–1860) | April 13, 1830 | December 4, 1830 | 235 days | Black | ||
(8) | Joseph Mechlin Jr. (unknown–1839) | December 4, 1830 | September 24, 1833 | 2 years, 293 days | White | ||
11 | George McGill (vice-agent) | September 24, 1833 | January 1, 1834 | 99 days | Black | ||
12 | John B. Pinney (1806–1882) | January 1, 1834 | May 10, 1835 | 1 year, 130 days | White | ||
13 | Nathaniel Brander (vice-agent) (1796–unknown) | May 10, 1835 | August 12, 1835 | 94 days | Black | ||
14 | Ezekiel Skinner (1777–1885) | August 12, 1835 | September 25, 1836 | 1 year, 63 days | White | ||
(10) | Anthony D. Williams (vice-agent then lieutenant governor) (1799–1860) | September 25, 1836 | April 1, 1839 | 2 years, 189 days | Black | ||
Commonwealth of Liberia | |||||||
1 | Thomas Buchanan (1808–1841) | April 1, 1839 | September 3, 1841 | 2 years, 154 days | White | Governor | |
2 | Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809–1876) | September 3, 1841 | January 3, 1848 | 6 years, 121 days | Black |
Became the first president of Liberia in January 1848