Arthur Barclay
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| Arthur Barclay | |
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15th President of Liberia
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| In office January 4, 1904 – January 1, 1912 |
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| Vice President | J. J. Dossen |
| Preceded by | Garreston W. Gibson |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Edward Howard |
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| Born | July 31, 1854 Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Died | July 10, 1938 (aged 83) Monrovia, Liberia |
| Political party | True Whig |
Arthur Barclay (July 31, 1854–July 10, 1938) was President of Liberia from 1904 to 1912.
Barclay was born at Bridgetown, Barbados, British West Indies, July 31, 1854; the tenth of twelve children of Anthony and Sarah Barclay. He is the father to Anthony Barclay, who later served on the Liberian Supreme Court and Uncle to President Edwin Barclay. Arthur Barclay was the 14th President of Liberia, serving from November 4, 1904 until January 1, 1912, representing the True Whig Party.
His first preceptress was his oldest sister, Antoinette Barclay, under whose tuition he remained until he entered the Preparatory Department of Liberia College, under the principalship of Anthony T. Ferguson. Having completed the course prescribed, he matriculated into the Collegiate Department and graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in the Class of 1873.
In 1877, he was appointed Principal of the Perparatory Department of his Alma Mater, which position he held for a number of years, and serving during the vacation as Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. His later services to the said Institution were: Professor, Member of the Board of Trustees, and some times Acting President.
He was called to the Bar of Montserrado County in 1877, and after practising law for three years, he attained the rank of Counsellor of the Supreme Court in the year 1880.
His first official position was Private Secretary to President Joseph Jenkins Roberts, from 1874; his second, Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas of Montserrado County to which he was appointed by President Alfred F. Russell, in 1883.
In 1885, President Hilary R. W. Johnson appointed him Sub-Treasurer of Montserrado County, which post he held for 5 years.
In 1892, President Joseph James Cheeseman, on taking office, elevated him to Cabinet rank as Postmaster-General, and afterwards to the post of Secretary of State. On the demise of H. A. Williams in 1896, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, which position he held continuously until his election to the Presidency in May, 1903. Inaugurated in January, 1904, he served until January 1912. After his retirement he frequently acted as Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of the Interior and War. He was President of Liberia College, 1914-1917.
He served upon the following diplomatic commissions:
- In 1893, associated with Senator A. B. King, and William Rothery, he was sent as a Commissioner to the World's Fair at Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
- In 1897, associated with Attorney-General Stevens, he went to London, England, to arrange with the Council of Foreign Bondholders for the amortization of the loan of 1870, contracted in the administration of President Edward James Roye, which had been in default for over 20 years.
- In 1901, he was associated with Chief Justice Z. B. Roberts and Senator A. B. King on diplomatic missions to England and France.
- In 1907, while President of the Nation, he headed the mission to arrange boundary disputes with the British and French Governments, associating with F. E. R. Johnson, Secretary of State, and T. McCants Stewart, Deputy Attorney-General of Liberia.
He died at his home in Monrovia on Sunday, July 10th, 1938, at the hour of 4:30 in the evening.
[edit] References
[edit] Sources and links
- Nathaniel R. Richardson, Liberia's Past and Present. London: The Diplomatic Press and Publishing Company, 1959.
| Preceded by Garretson W. Gibson |
President of Liberia 1904–1912 |
Succeeded by Daniel E. Howard |
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