William Tubman Biography

William Tubman was the 19th President of Liberia. His 27 years in office saw Liberia transform from underdeveloped colony to a nation with a bustling economy. The son of a preacher, Tubman came from modest beginnings. His father, a Methodist preacher, was a strict authoritarian. He raised his kids to have strong faith and strong character. Tubman aspired to follow in his father's footsteps and become a preacher. He became a lay pastor at the age of 19 while serving as an officer in the Liberian military. After the military stint, Tubman studied for his law degree and passed the Bar exam. This provided him a springboard to get into the world of politics. Ever since his first day in political office Tubman always advocated for the rights of the native African tribesmen. He fought for more infrastructure development in the areas populated by tribesman, saying these people did not get any of the benefits of colonialism. He became Liberia's 19th president in 1944 and ushered in Liberia's economic Golden Age. His economic open door policy brought in a substantial stream of foreign investment. The country had the second-fastest growing economy throughout the 1950s. This success earned Tubman the title of "Father of Liberian Modernization"