Edwin Barclay

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Edwin James Barclay

18th President of Liberia
In office December 3, 1930 – January 3, 1944
Vice President(s)	Unknown
Preceded by	Charles D.B. King
Succeeded by	William V.S. Tubman

Born	1882
Political party	True Whig

Edwin James Barclay (1882-1955) was a Liberian politician. He served as President of the country from 1930 until 1944.

[edit] Biography

Edwin Barclay's paternal grandparents moved from Barbados to Liberia with their children in 1865. Edwin's father, Ernest Barclay and uncle, Arthur Barclay were also important Liberian politicians. In 1901, at the age of 19, Edwin wrote a Liberian patriotic song, "The Lone Star Forever."

Edwin Barclay, a member of the True Whig Party which ruled at that time, served as foreign minister and secretary of state of Liberia in the government of Charles D.B. King from 1920 until 1930. He became President of Liberia in 1930 when President King and Vice-President Allen B. Yancey resigned because of a scandal. He was elected in his own right for the first time in 1931. Barclay is credited with helping the country survive some of Liberia's greatest threats to its sovereignty in that country's history. They included threats by the League of Nations led by Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to recolonize the country unless reforms were made, aggressive actions by France and a coup attempt by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company which owned much of Liberia's land. Barclay retired in 1944 and was replaced by William Tubman. On May 27, 1943, Edwin Barclay became the first black man to appear as a guest of honor before the United States Congress and be officially introduced from its rostrum. He was repaying President Franklin Roosevelt for the trip he had made to Liberia after the Casablanca Conference.