Lafayette Morgan facts for kids
Lafayette K. Morgan was an important person in Liberia. He was born on February 10, 1931, and passed away on April 26, 2005. He was a skilled accountant and financial expert. He also served as an economic advisor for the Republic of Liberia.
Early Life and Education
Lafayette Kiejarlie Morgan was born in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, on February 10, 1931. His middle name, Kiejarlie, meant "Red man" in the Vai language. This was because he had very light skin when he was born.
His father was Edwin A. Morgan, a Senior Senator for Grand Bassa. His father also used to lead the True Whig Party in Liberia. His mother, Tarlo Jallah, was from Grand Cape Mount County. Lafayette K. Morgan was the father of Tupin Morgan.
Lafayette Morgan went to the College of West Africa in Monrovia. This was a top high school at the time. He finished there in the 1950s. He then studied briefly at the University of Liberia.
Later, he went to Babson College in Massachusetts, USA. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He was the first African student to graduate from that school. After that, he studied at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He received a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Finance.
Public Service in Liberia
Lafayette Morgan returned to Liberia in 1960. He had just finished his advanced studies in the United States. He started working as an accountant in Liberia's Treasury Department. This department is now called the Ministry of Finance.
He quickly moved up in his career. Later that same year, he became the Accountant General. In 1962, he was promoted to Under Secretary of the Treasury for Fiscal Affairs. This meant he helped manage the country's money.
In 1964, President William V.S. Tubman chose him to be his Economic Advisor. Mr. Morgan held this important job until 1973. When President Tubman's successor, President William R. Tolbert, Jr., took office, he made Morgan a member of his Cabinet. He became Liberia's first Minister of State without portfolio. This role meant he was a special advisor without a specific department to run.
Business Ventures
In 1975, Lafayette Morgan became the Manager of General Services for the Bong Mining Company. He worked there until 1980. That year, a coup d'état happened, which means the government was overthrown. After this, Mr. Morgan moved to the United States.
He returned to Liberia in 1982. He wanted to restart his accounting business. He had first started this company in 1960, calling it Morgan, Harmon and Otto. In 1982, he reopened the company with a new partner, David Farhat. Mr. Farhat was also an accounting expert and later became Liberia's Minister of Finance. Their new company was named Morgan and Farhat.
In the 1970s, Mr. Morgan also started a travel agency. He also created a company that offered computer services. He ran these businesses until 1990, when a war began. He then moved back to the United States.
