Joseph Gibson facts for kids

Joseph Gibson (1823-1886) was an Americo-Liberian politician. He was born in the United States. Americo-Liberians were people of African-American descent who moved to Liberia.

Who Was Joseph Gibson?

Joseph Gibson was born in 1823. He was born in Talbot County, Maryland. At that time, he was a free black resident. This meant he was not enslaved.

Early Life and Moving to Africa

In 1835, Gibson and his family moved to West Africa. They went with help from the Maryland State Colonization Society. This group helped free black Americans move to Africa. They hoped to create a new home there.

Helping Build a New Nation

Gibson quickly became an important leader in the community. He helped lead the Maryland Colony. This colony later became independent. It was called The Independent State of Maryland in Liberia.

Gibson was part of a nine-person committee. This committee helped write the country's constitution. A constitution is a set of rules for how a country is governed. Their constitution was based on the rules of the United States.

In June 1854, Gibson was chosen to be part of the country's senate. The senate is a group of lawmakers.

Joining the Republic of Liberia

The independent state of Maryland in Liberia faced challenges. Its leaders worried about attacks from local people. So, in 1857, they decided to join the nearby Republic of Liberia. This made Liberia a larger, stronger country.

A Leader in Liberia

After joining Liberia, Gibson continued to serve his people. He became the first superintendent of Maryland County, Liberia. A superintendent is like a chief administrator for a region.

Serving as Vice President

From January 6, 1868, to January 3, 1870, Joseph Gibson held a very important job. He was the seventh Vice President of Liberia. He served under President James Spriggs Payne. Gibson was a member of the Republican Party.