William Tubman

William Tubman
Tubman in the Netherlands c.1956
19th President of Liberia
In office
3 January 1944 – 23 July 1971
Vice PresidentClarence Lorenzo Simpson (1944–1952)
William Tolbert (1952–1971)
Preceded byEdwin Barclay
Succeeded byWilliam Tolbert
Senator from Maryland County
In office
1923–1931
In office
1934–1937
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
In office
1937–1943
Personal details
Born
William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman

(1895-11-29)29 November 1895
Harper, Liberia
Died23 July 1971(1971-07-23) (aged 75)
London, England
Political partyTrue Whig
Spouse(s)Martha Aletha Rhoda Pratt-Tubman
(m. 1948)
Military service
Allegiance Liberia
Branch/serviceLiberian Frontier Force
Years of service1910–1917
RankOfficer

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (29 November 1895 – 23 July 1971) was a Liberian politician. He was the 19th president of Liberia and the longest-serving president in the country's history,[1] serving from his election in 1944 until his death in 1971.

Tubman is regarded as the "father of modern Liberia" in that during his presidency sufficient foreign investment was attracted to modernize the country's economy and infrastructure. During his tenure, Liberia experienced a period of prosperity. He also led a policy of national unification in order to reduce the social and political differences between his fellow Americo-Liberians and the indigenous Liberians.

  1. ^ "Rescuing Liberian history - preserving the photographs of William VS Tubman, Liberia's longest serving President". Endangered Archives Programme. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2020-11-30.