1855 Liberian general election

General elections were held in Liberia in 1855 to elect the president of Liberia, with incumbent president Joseph Jenkins Roberts declining to run for a fifth term in office.^[1]

1855 Liberian general election

← 1853 1855 1857 →

Presidential election

Nominee Stephen Allen Benson Edward James Roye Party True Liberian Party Old Whig Party

President before election Joseph Jenkins Roberts True Liberian Party Elected President Stephen Allen Benson True Liberian Party

The presidential election resulted in a victory for Vice-President Stephen Allen Benson of the True Liberian Party, who defeated Edward James Roye of the Whig Party.^[2][3] Beverly P. Yates was elected vice-president.^[4]

Benson took office as the country's second president on 7 January 1856, with Roberts making a speech at Benson's inauguration.^[5]

References

1. Stephen Allen Benson (1816-1865) National Portrait Gallery
2. Hollis R. Lynch (1970). Edward Wilmot Blyden: Pan-Negro Patriot, 1832–1912. Oxford University Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-19-536546-7.
3. Joseph Saye Guannu (1977). Liberian History Before 1857: A Reference for Elementary Pupils. p. 57.
4. Liberians All. 1948. p. 57.
5. Presidential Power Transfer In Liberian History, Joseph Jenkins Roberts To Ellen Johnson Sirleaf The Perspective, 26 September 2017