The first governor, Thomas Buchanan, served from 1838 until his death in 1841. He was succeeded by Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first person of African descent to serve as governor of Liberia. Upon independence in 1847, Roberts was elected as the first president of Liberia.

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (29 November 1895 – 23 July 1971) was a Liberian politician. He was the 19th president of Liberia and the longest-serving president in the country's history, [1] serving from his election in 1944 until his death in 1971.

Commanding a group of Krahn soldiers, Master Sergeant Samuel Doe led a military coup on 12 April 1980 by attacking the Liberian Executive Mansion and killing President William Tolbert. His forces killed another 26 of Tolbert's supporters in the fighting. Thirteen members of the Cabinet were publicly executed ten days later.

William V. S. Tubman (born Nov. 29, 1895, Harper, Liberia—died July 23, 1971, London, Eng.) was a statesman whose 27 years as Liberia’s 17th president constituted the longest tenure in that office in the history of Africa’s first republic (proclaimed in 1847).

Jul 24, 1971 · LONDON, July 23—President William V. S. Tubman of Li beria, leader of Africa's oldest independent republic, died to day at the London Clinic. He was 75 years old.

IT WAS with profound sadness that Mrs. Nixon and I learned today of the death of President William V. S. Tubman of Liberia. A leading African statesman for a quarter of a century, President Tubman was well known and highly respected in the United States.

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman was born in Harper, Maryland County, Liberia, on November 29, 1895. He was President of Liberia from 1944 until his death in a London clinic on July 23, 1971. With 27 years in office he ruled the country longer than any other president before him – and after him.

Born in Harper, Maryland County, Liberia; Was elected six times; Longest serving President in Liberian history; Second President who died in office; 20. William Richard Tolbert, Jr. 1971-1980 completed Tubman's 6th term (1971) and served his 7th term (1972-1976) Born in Bensonville, Montserrado County, Liberia; Was elected once (1975)

political ideology: 19th President of Liberia - 3 January 1944 – 23 July 1971, Political party - True Whig. Died on: July 23, 1971. place of death: London, England. Grouping of People: Black Politician. Cause of Death: Complications From Prostate Gland Surgery

President Tubman died in London, England on July 23, 1971, and Vice-President William R. Tolbert Jr. became provisional president on July 23, 1971. William Tolbert was inaugurated as the 19th president of Liberia on January 3, 1972.