Republic of Maryland
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Maryland (also known as the Independent State of Maryland) was a small African American
nation which existed from 1854 to 1857, when it was united into what is now Liberia
.
The area was first settled in 1834 by freed African-American slaves and freeborn African-Americans primarily from the U.S.
state of Maryland
, under the auspices of the Maryland State Colonization Society
. In 1838, other African-American settlements were united into the Commonwealth of Liberia, which declared its independence in 1847. The Maryland in Liberia colony remained apart, as the state colonization society wished to maintain its trade monopoly in the area. On 2 February 1841, Maryland-in-Africa became the State of Maryland. The state declared its independence on 29 May 1854 as Maryland in Liberia with its capital at Harper
.
Originally a branch of the American Colonization Society
that had founded Liberia in 1822, the Maryland State Colonization Society decided to establish a new settlement of its own that could accommodate its emigrants. The first area to be settled was Cape Palmas
, in 1834, somewhat south of the rest of Liberia. The Cape is a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the peninsula is the estuary of the Hoffman River. Approximately 21 km (15 mi) further along the coast to the east, the Cavalla River empties into the sea, marking the border between Liberia and the Ivory Coast. It marks the western limit of the Gulf of Guinea, according to the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).
Most of the settlers were freed African-American slaves and freeborn African-Americans primarily from the state of Maryland
. The colony was named Maryland In Africa (also known as Maryland in Liberia) on February 12, 1834.
In 1836 the colony appointed its first black governor John Brown Russwurm
(1799–1851), who remained governor until his death. Russwurm encouraged the immigration of African-Americans to Maryland and supported agriculture and trade. He had begun his career as the colonial secretary for the American Colonization Society
between 1830 and 1834. He also worked as the editor of the Liberia Herald
, though he resigned his post in 1835 to protest America's colonization policies.
In 1838, a number of other African-American settlements on the west coast of Africa united to form the Commonwealth of Liberia, which then declared its independence in 1847. However, the colony of Maryland in Liberia colony remained independent, as the Maryland State Colonization Society wished to maintain its trade monopoly in the area. On 2 February 1841, Maryland-in-Africa was granted statehood, and became the State of Maryland. In 1847 the Maryland State Colonization Society published the Constitution and Laws of Maryland in Liberia, based on the United States Constitution
.
. It was also known as the Republic of Maryland. It held the land along the coast between the Grand Cess
and San Pedro Rivers. However, it would survive just three years as an independent state.
Soon afterwards, local tribes including the Grebo
and the Kru attacked the State of Maryland in retaliation for its disruption of the slave trade. Unable to maintain its own defence, Maryland appealed to Liberia, its more powerful neighbor, for help. President Roberts sent military assistance, and an alliance of Marylanders and Liberian militia troops successfully repelled the local tribesmen. However, it was now clear that the Republic of Maryland could not survive as an independent state, and Maryland was annexed by Liberia on 18 March 1857, becoming known henceforth as Maryland County
.
, Cape Palmas
, Liberia
.
Term
Incumbent
Notes>
12 February 1834
Maryland State Colonization Society
founds Maryland-in-Africa colony
12 February 1834 to February 1836
James Hall
, Governor
February 1836 to 1 July 1836
Oliver Holmes, Jr., Governor
1 July 1836 to 28 September 1836
Three-Man Committee
28 September 1836 to 2 February 1841
John Brown Russwurm
, Governor
State of Maryland in Liberia
2 February 1841 to 9 June 1851
John Brown Russwurm
, Governor
9 June 1851 to 1852
Samuel Ford McGill, acting Governor
1852 to 29 May 1854
Samuel Ford McGill, Governor
The Independent State of Maryland in Liberia
29 May 1854 to 8 June 1854
Samuel Ford McGill, Governor
8 June 1854 to April 1856
William A. Prout, Governor
April 1856 to 18 March 1857
Boston Jenkins Drayton
, Governor
18 March 1857
Incorporated into The Republic of Liberia
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
nation which existed from 1854 to 1857, when it was united into what is now 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...
.
The area was first settled in 1834 by freed African-American slaves and freeborn African-Americans primarily from the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, under the auspices of the Maryland State Colonization Society
Maryland State Colonization Society
The Maryland State Colonization Society was the Maryland branch of the American Colonization Society, an organization founded in 1816 with the purpose of returning free African Americans to what many Southerners considered greater freedom in Africa. The ACS helped to found the colony of Liberia in...
. In 1838, other African-American settlements were united into the Commonwealth of Liberia, which declared its independence in 1847. The Maryland in Liberia colony remained apart, as the state colonization society wished to maintain its trade monopoly in the area. On 2 February 1841, Maryland-in-Africa became the State of Maryland. The state declared its independence on 29 May 1854 as Maryland in Liberia with its capital at Harper
Harper, Liberia
Harper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia's 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837....
.
History
In December 1831, the Maryland state legislature appropriated US$10,000 for 26 years to transport free blacks and ex-slaves from the United States to Africa, and the Maryland State Colonization Society was established for this purpose.Settlement of Cape Palmas
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
that had founded Liberia in 1822, the Maryland State Colonization Society decided to establish a new settlement of its own that could accommodate its emigrants. The first area to be settled was Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas is a headland on the extreme southeast end of the coast of Liberia, West Africa, at the extreme southwest corner of the northern half of the continent. The Cape itself consists of a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the...
, in 1834, somewhat south of the rest of Liberia. The Cape is a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the peninsula is the estuary of the Hoffman River. Approximately 21 km (15 mi) further along the coast to the east, the Cavalla River empties into the sea, marking the border between Liberia and the Ivory Coast. It marks the western limit of the Gulf of Guinea, according to the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).
Most of the settlers were freed African-American slaves and freeborn African-Americans primarily from the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The colony was named Maryland In Africa (also known as Maryland in Liberia) on February 12, 1834.
John Brown Russwurm
John Brown Russwurm
John Brown Russwurm was an American abolitionist from Jamaica, known for his newspaper, Freedom's Journal. He moved from the United States to govern the Maryland section of an African American colony in Liberia, dying there in 1851....
(1799–1851), who remained governor until his death. Russwurm encouraged the immigration of African-Americans to Maryland and supported agriculture and trade. He had begun his career as the colonial secretary for the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
between 1830 and 1834. He also worked as the editor of the Liberia Herald
Liberia Herald
The Liberia Herald, founded in 1826 is the first newspaper ever published in Liberia which at the time was a colony. It was founded by Charles Force, an American freed slave who died shortly after....
, though he resigned his post in 1835 to protest America's colonization policies.
In 1838, a number of other African-American settlements on the west coast of Africa united to form the Commonwealth of Liberia, which then declared its independence in 1847. However, the colony of Maryland in Liberia colony remained independent, as the Maryland State Colonization Society wished to maintain its trade monopoly in the area. On 2 February 1841, Maryland-in-Africa was granted statehood, and became the State of Maryland. In 1847 the Maryland State Colonization Society published the Constitution and Laws of Maryland in Liberia, based on the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
Declaration of Independence, and annexation by Liberia
On 29 May 1854, the State of Maryland declared its independence, naming itself Maryland in Liberia, with its capital at HarperHarper, Liberia
Harper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia's 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837....
. It was also known as the Republic of Maryland. It held the land along the coast between the Grand Cess
Grand Cess
Grand Cess is a town in Grand Kru County, Liberia....
and San Pedro Rivers. However, it would survive just three years as an independent state.
Soon afterwards, local tribes including the Grebo
Grebo (ethnic group)
The name Grebo is used to refer to an ethnic group or subgroup within the larger Kru group of West Africa, to certain of its constituent elements, or to the Grebo language. Within Liberia members of this group are found primarily in Maryland County and Grand Kru County in the southeastern portion...
and the Kru attacked the State of Maryland in retaliation for its disruption of the slave trade. Unable to maintain its own defence, Maryland appealed to Liberia, its more powerful neighbor, for help. President Roberts sent military assistance, and an alliance of Marylanders and Liberian militia troops successfully repelled the local tribesmen. However, it was now clear that the Republic of Maryland could not survive as an independent state, and Maryland was annexed by Liberia on 18 March 1857, becoming known henceforth as Maryland County
Maryland County
Maryland County is a county in the southeastern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has two districts. Harper serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
.
Legacy
There is a statue of John Brown Russwurm at his burial site at HarperHarper, Liberia
Harper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia's 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837....
, Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas is a headland on the extreme southeast end of the coast of Liberia, West Africa, at the extreme southwest corner of the northern half of the continent. The Cape itself consists of a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the...
, 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...
.
Governors of Maryland-in-Africa
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)Maryland State Colonization Society
The Maryland State Colonization Society was the Maryland branch of the American Colonization Society, an organization founded in 1816 with the purpose of returning free African Americans to what many Southerners considered greater freedom in Africa. The ACS helped to found the colony of Liberia in...
founds Maryland-in-Africa colony
James Hall
-Actors, Entertainment, Broadcasting:* James Hall , American actor* Jamie Hall , Canadian TV producer-Authors:* James Hall , American academic* James Baker Hall , American author...
, Governor
John Brown Russwurm
John Brown Russwurm was an American abolitionist from Jamaica, known for his newspaper, Freedom's Journal. He moved from the United States to govern the Maryland section of an African American colony in Liberia, dying there in 1851....
, Governor
John Brown Russwurm
John Brown Russwurm was an American abolitionist from Jamaica, known for his newspaper, Freedom's Journal. He moved from the United States to govern the Maryland section of an African American colony in Liberia, dying there in 1851....
, Governor
Boston Jenkins Drayton
Boston Jenkins Drayton was a Liberian politician and Lutheran minister who served as the 3rd Chief Justice of Liberia from 1861 until 1864. He had previously served as the final Governor of the Republic of Maryland from 1855 until its annexation by Liberia on 18 March 1857.Born in Charleston,...
, Governor
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...