James Skivring Smith

James Skivring Smith

James Skivring Smith (* around 1825 in Charleston , South Carolina , † after 1884) was an American-Liberian doctor and politician. From November 4, 1871 to January 1, 1872, he was the sixth President of Liberia .

James S. Smith was eight years old when he arrived in Liberia in 1833. Within a year of their arrival, his parents died of something called "African fever" (most likely malaria). He studied medicine with James W. Lugenbeel, a white doctor serving the American Colonization Society . After completing his medical training in the United States, Smith returned to Liberia and served as a doctor for the American Colonization Society.

Smith was elected to the Liberian Senate in 1855 for the Grand Bassa region and later became Secretary of State. From May 1869, Smith was vice president under President Edward J. Roye until he was overthrown in October 1871. He was President of Liberia until the election of Joseph Jenkins Roberts on January 1, 1872.

From 1874 to 1884 he was superintendent of the Grand Bassa region .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Information on the Library of Congress website , viewed June 18, 2009