William D. Coleman (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William D. Coleman
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| 13th President of Liberia | |
| In office November 12, 1896 – December 11, 1900 |
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| Vice President | Joseph J. Ross |
| Preceded by | Joseph James Cheeseman |
| Succeeded by | Garretson W. Gibson |
| 13th Vice President of Liberia | |
| In office January 4, 1892 – November 12, 1896 |
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| President | Joseph James Cheeseman |
| Preceded by | James Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Joseph J. Ross |
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| Born | July 18, 1842 Fayette County, Kentucky, United States |
| Died | July 12, 1908 (aged 65) Clay-Ashland, Liberia |
| Political party | True Whig |
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William David Coleman (born July 18, 1842 – died July 12, 1908) was an important politician in Liberia. He was a member of the True Whig Party. Coleman served as the 13th president of Liberia from 1896 to 1900.
He was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. In 1853, he moved to Liberia with his family. William D. Coleman later became a leader in his new country.
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Early Life and Education
William D. Coleman was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1842. He was born into slavery. When he was 11 years old, he and his family moved to Liberia.
His family included his mother, Ellen, and three other people. They settled in a town called Clay-Ashland, which is close to Monrovia. William learned to be a carpenter and worked other jobs. He also became a successful trader. He studied at night to get the education he had missed as a child.
Journey into Politics
In 1877, William D. Coleman was chosen to represent Montserrado County in the House of Representatives. He quickly became the Speaker of the House. This meant he was in charge of the meetings.
Two years later, Coleman was elected as a senator for the same county. He stayed in the Senate until 1892. That year, he became the vice president. He served with Joseph James Cheeseman as part of the True Whig Party. They were re-elected two times.
When President Cheeseman died in 1896, William D. Coleman became president. He finished Cheeseman's term and then won two more terms of his own.
His Time as President
William D. Coleman became president in 1896. He was the first vice president to take over after a president died in office. President Coleman focused on three main goals for Liberia. These were improving education, managing the country's money, and strengthening control over the interior parts of the country.
He worked with his friend, Dr. Edward Wilmot Blyden, to reopen Liberia College in Monrovia. This was a big step for education. He also worked to improve how the government collected taxes on goods. He tried to help Liberia find and use its natural resources better. Coleman was successful in gaining more control over the northern and western areas of the country.
Challenges and Resignation
As his time as president continued, some people started to disagree with his policies. They were especially concerned about how he handled issues with the native tribes in the interior.
He also had disagreements with his political friends and his own government team. This put a lot of pressure on his leadership. Because of these challenges, he decided to resign from office in December 1900.
After Coleman resigned, his Secretary of State, Garretson W. Gibson, became the new president. This happened because the vice president had also passed away.
Later Years and Impact
Even after leaving the presidency, William D. Coleman stayed active in Liberian politics. He ran for president three more times. He ran in 1901, 1903, and 1905 as a member of the People's Party. However, he did not win any of those elections.
He passed away in 1908 in Clay-Ashland. He was 65 years old. His grandson, Samuel David Coleman, also became involved in politics later on.
What He Left Behind
- The William D. Coleman High School in Clay-Ashland, Liberia, was built to honor him.
- William D. Coleman has many family members living today. They are in Liberia and other parts of the world. Some famous descendants include NBA player Noah Vonleh and NFL player Tevin Coleman.
See Also
