1847 Liberian general election explained

Country:Liberia
Next Election:1849 Liberian general election
Next Year:1849
Election Date:September 27, 1847
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Presidential election
Type:presidential
Image1:Joseph Jenkins Roberts.jpg
Nominee1:Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Party1:Pro-Administration
Party1 Name:no
Nominee2:Samuel Benedict
Party2:Anti-Administration
Party2 Name:no
President
After Election:Joseph Jenkins Roberts

General elections were held for the first time in newly independent Liberia on September 27, 1847, alongside a constitutional referendum.[1] The result was a victory for Governor Joseph Jenkins Roberts of the Pro-Administration Party, who defeated Samuel Benedict of the Anti-Administration Party.[2] In a separate vote, Nathaniel Brander was elected vice president.[3]

Roberts was sworn into office as the country's first president on January 3, 1848, with Nathaniel Brander as vice president.

Campaign

Due to his part in the trial of Tobias Outland, who had murdered James Stevens in 1845, Benedict had faced condemnation across the electorate.[4]

Results

In the presidential vote, Benedict received only ten votes.[4]

In Montserrado County John B. Gripon and John N. Lewis were elected to the Senate whilst D. B. Brown, William Draper, J.B. McGill, and Daniel Bashiel Warner were elected to the House of Representatives.[3]

Notes and References

  1. [Charles Henry Huberich]
  2. http://africanelections.tripod.com/lr.html Elections in Liberia
  3. Huberich, p846
  4. Nathaniel R Richardson (1959) Liberia's Past and Present, The Diplomatic Press and Publishing Company, p82