Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Date of Birth : Mar 15, 1809
Date of Death : Feb 24, 1876
Joseph Jenkins Roberts was the first and seventh President of Liberia. Born free in Norfolk, Virginia, US, Roberts emigrated to Liberia in 1829 as a young man. He opened a trading store in Monrovia, and later engaged in politics. When Liberia became independent in 1847, Roberts was elected the first president, serving until 1856. In 1872 he was elected again to serve as Liberia's seventh president.