Alfred Francis Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Francis Russell
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| 10th President of Liberia | |
| In office 20 January 1883 – 7 January 1884 |
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| Preceded by | Anthony William Gardiner |
| Succeeded by | Hilary R. W. Johnson |
| 11th Vice President of Liberia | |
| In office 7 January 1878 – 20 January 1883 |
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| President | Anthony William Gardiner |
| Preceded by | Charles Harmon |
| Succeeded by | James Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 August 1817 Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
| Died | 4 April 1884 (aged 66) Liberia |
| Political party | True Whig |
Alfred Francis Russell (born August 25, 1817 – died April 4, 1884) was an important leader in Liberia. He was a missionary, a farmer, and a politician. Russell served as the tenth President of Liberia from 1883 to 1884. Before becoming president, he was the vice president under Anthony William Gardiner.
Russell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in the United States. In 1833, he and his mother, Amelie "Milly" Crawford, gained their freedom. They moved from the United States to Liberia that same year. Alfred Russell later married and had a daughter named Julia Ann. He was also a Methodist minister and owned a large farm where he grew coffee and sugarcane. He was elected to the Liberian Senate and held a leadership role there.
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Early Life and Freedom
Alfred Russell was born in 1817 in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born into slavery. His mother, Amelie "Milly" Crawford, was of mixed race.
In 1833, when Alfred was 15, he and his mother were freed. This happened through Mary Owen Todd Russell Wickliffe, who was their owner and also Alfred's grandmother. His cousin, Lucretia Russell, and her four children were also freed at the same time.
That year, Alfred, his mother, and his cousin's family traveled to Liberia. They were part of a group of nearly 200 people. They sailed on a ship called the Ajax. This journey was organized by the American Colonization Society. They arrived in Liberia on July 11, 1833.
Life as a Pioneer in Liberia
Life was very tough for the early settlers in Liberia. They faced many challenges, including diseases like malaria. There was also not enough food or proper housing for a long time. Medical help was almost impossible to find.
Alfred Russell's cousin Lucy and some of her children became sick and sadly passed away. Alfred himself also got sick, which caused him to need a crutch by 1835.
His mother, Milly, married another immigrant named George Crawford. She died in 1845, and George died the next year. Alfred Russell later wrote about how hard it was to learn how to live and survive in Africa.
Political Career and Public Service
Alfred Russell first trained to be a teacher. Later, he became an Episcopal priest in the St. Paul River area of Liberia. He owned a large farm of 200 acres in the Clay Ashland district. On his farm, he grew sugarcane and coffee. He hired local workers to help him.
Russell also became very active in politics. In 1881, he ran for vice president alongside Anthony W. Gardiner. They won, and Gardiner became president for his third term.
Three years later, President Gardiner resigned because of health problems. As vice president, Alfred Russell then became the new president of Liberia.
Presidency (1883–1884)
Alfred Russell served as president for about one year. During his time in office, Liberia faced some big challenges.
Conflicts Over Land
One major issue was a conflict with the British over land. This problem had started before Russell became president. In March 1883, just two months after he took office, the British government took control of the Gallinas territory. This land was west of the Mano River. They made it part of their colony, Sierra Leone.
Liberia often worried that the British and French wanted to take more of its land. Sometimes, U.S. warships would visit Liberia, which helped to discourage these countries from taking more territory. However, the United States did not offer strong support to Liberia. Many people believe that Russell, along with President Gardiner, was blamed for Liberia losing a lot of its land to the British. This might be why he was not re-elected for a second term.
Economic Challenges
Liberia also faced growing economic problems during this time. The country's economy was mostly based on farming. They exported goods like coffee, rice, palm oil, sugarcane, and timber. However, the cost of things Liberia imported was much higher than the money they made from exports. This made it hard for the country to grow and modernize its economy.
Death and Legacy
Alfred Russell died on April 4, 1884, just three months after he left office.
He has many family members who still live in Liberia and other parts of West Africa today. He was the great-grandfather of Clarence Lorenzo Simpson, who also became a Vice President of Liberia. Russell also has relatives in the United States, in states like Maryland, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
See also
In Spanish: Alfred Francis Russell para niños
