Anthony Gardiner The ninth President of Liberia from 1878 to 1883 Date of Birth: 03.02.1820 Country: Liberia

1. Anthony William Gardiner
2. Early Life and Education
3. Political Career
4. Presidency
5. International Conflicts
6. Resignation and Death

Anthony William Gardiner

Anthony William Gardiner was the ninth president of Liberia from 1878 to 1883. He was the second member of the True Whig Party to become president of the republic, beginning a successful run of True Whig presidencies that lasted until 1980.

Early Life and Education

Gardiner was born in Virginia, USA, in 1820. In 1833, when Anthony was a child, his family relocated to Liberia under the sponsorship of the American Colonization Society. In 1847, Gardiner received his legal education in Liberia.

Political Career

Gardiner was elected as a delegate to the National Convention that drafted Liberia's Constitution and Declaration of Independence. He became Liberia's first attorney general and later served in the republic's legislature from 1855 to 1871.

After a coup d'état against President Edward Roye in 1871, Anthony Gardiner became vice president of the republic. He was re-elected twice and served as vice president until 1876. Early in 1875, President Roberts became incapacitated by illness, so Vice President Gardiner assumed the duties of the presidency until the end of Roberts' term in January 1876.

Presidency

Two years later, Gardiner won the presidential election and became president of the republic on January 7, 1878. This election marked the beginning of the True Whig Party's political dominance in Liberia, as every president until the 1980 coup d'état was elected from that party. Gardiner was elected president twice. During his presidency, he increased trade, improved the government, and strengthened ties with the indigenous population. However, Gardiner's domestic policies were overshadowed by conflicts with European colonizers.

International Conflicts

During Anthony William Gardiner's presidency, tensions between Britain and Germany intensified, and Liberia was drawn into a conflict over the Gallinas territory (now part of eastern Sierra Leone) by the British Empire. The British, led by Sir Arthur Havelock, formally annexed Monrovia. Meanwhile, German ships raided the Kru coast and bombarded the town of Nana Kru, threatening to bombard the capital, Monrovia, if their demands were not met.

Resignation and Death

President Gardiner left office on January 20, 1883, due to a serious illness, and was succeeded by Vice President Alfred Francis Russell. Two months later, the Gallinas territory was formally annexed by British Sierra Leone.