# Joseph Jenkins Roberts

_President of Liberia (1809–1876)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/joseph-jenkins-roberts
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Joseph Jenkins Roberts was an African American merchant who emigrated to Liberia in 1829, where he became a politician. Elected as the first (1848–1856) and seventh (1872–1876) president of Liberia after independence, he was the first man of African descent to govern the country, serving previously as governor from 1841 to 1848. He later returned to office in the 1871 general election following the 1871 Liberian coup d'état. Born free in Norfolk, Virginia, Roberts emigrated as a young man with his mother, siblings, wife, and child to the young West African colony. He opened a trading firm in Monrovia and later engaged in politics.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 15 March 1809 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Norfolk ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P19))
- **Died:** 24 February 1876 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P570))
- **Place of death:** Monrovia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States; Liberia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P106))
- **Political party:** Republican Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P102))
- **Spouse:** Jane Rose Roberts ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Liberia (1 January 1872 – 3 January 1876); President of Liberia (3 January 1848 – 7 January 1856); Governor of Liberia (3 September 1841 – 3 January 1848) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164#P39))

## Questions

**When was Joseph Jenkins Roberts born?**  
Joseph Jenkins Roberts was born on 15 March 1809 in Norfolk.

**What positions has Joseph Jenkins Roberts held?**  
Positions held by Joseph Jenkins Roberts include: President of Liberia (1872–1876); President of Liberia (1848–1856); Governor of Liberia (1841–1848).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Joseph Jenkins Roberts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q360164](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360164) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Joseph Jenkins Roberts c. 1865 (A) (cropped).tif by not stated (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts_c._1865_(A)_(cropped).tif)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Joseph Jenkins Roberts, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Joseph Jenkins Roberts c. 1865 (A) (cropped).tif — not stated, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Joseph Jenkins Roberts". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/joseph-jenkins-roberts. Retrieved 6 November 2026.