Clarence Lorenzo Simpson (1896–1969) was a politician in Liberia

Liberia

Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...

. He was Secretary of State

Secretary of State

Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....

 during much of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 (1934–1943) under President Edwin Barclay

Edwin Barclay

Edwin James Barclay was a Liberian politician. A member of the True Whig political party, he served as the 18th President of the country from 1930 until 1944. Under his leadership, Liberia was an ally of the United States during World War II....

.

Before coming foreign minister, Simpson was Post Master General, the Speaker of Liberian House of Representatives

House of Representatives of Liberia

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.-Candidate eligibility:...

 from 1931-1934. After leaving the foreign ministry in 1943, Simpson was one of the six candidates in that year's election; he eventually lost to William V.S. Tubman. He served as the Vice-President of Liberia

Vice-President of Liberia

The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia is the second-highest executive official in Liberia, and one of only two elected executive offices along with the President. The Vice President is elected on the same ticket with the president to a six-year term...

 from 1944-1952 under Tubman.

Simpson was the Liberian delegate to the League of Nations

League of Nations

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...

 in 1934 and headed the Liberian delegation to the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 in 1945. Simpson also served as Grand Master of the Masonic Craft of Liberia a fraternity that significantly controlled Liberian politics. He was married to Abrametta Stubblefield Liberia first female lawyer. Simpson had four children Hilaria, Clarice, Clarence and Amanda. He was an astute Liberian states man.

Source

• New Liberian Ambassador, Her Only One, Lands Here Today To Take Up Post In U.S. New York Times, 20 April 1952