Thomas Buchanan (Governor of Liberia)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Buchanan was the second governor of Liberia
and a cousin of James Buchanan
, President of the United States
. He came to Liberia as the envoy of the American Colonization Society
in the 1830s. He worked first as an administrator in Grand Bassa, which later had its capital named Buchanan
in his honor. In 1839, Buchanan was sent to Monrovia
, where he became the second governor of Liberia after the death of Jehudi Ashmun. He served from April 1, 1839 until his death on September 3, 1841.
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...
and a cousin of James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. He came to Liberia as the envoy of 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...
in the 1830s. He worked first as an administrator in Grand Bassa, which later had its capital named Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
in his honor. In 1839, Buchanan was sent to Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, where he became the second governor of Liberia after the death of Jehudi Ashmun. He served from April 1, 1839 until his death on September 3, 1841.