William Tolbert

William Tolbert
Tolbert in 1978
20th President of Liberia
In office 23 July 1971 – 12 April 1980
Vice President	vacant (1971–1972) James Edward Greene (1972–1977) Bennie Dee Warner (1977–1980)
Preceded by	William Tubman
Succeeded by	Samuel Doe
23rd Vice President of Liberia
In office 1 January 1952 – 23 July 1971
President	William Tubman
Preceded by	Clarence Simpson
Succeeded by	James Edward Greene
Personal details
Born	William Richard Tolbert Jr. (1913-05-13)13 May 1913 Bensonville, Liberia
Died	12 April 1980(1980-04-12) (aged 66) Monrovia, Liberia
Manner of death	Assassination by firearm
Resting place	Palm Grove Cemetery
Political party	True Whig
Spouse	Victoria David ​ (m. 1936)​
Children	8

This article is part of a series about William Tolbert
TWP 1975 President of Liberia 1971-1980 Government 1975 presidential term referendum 1976-1977 ritual killings Tolbert Death Retirement of an elderly soldier
v t e

William Richard Tolbert Jr. (13 May 1913 – 12 April 1980) was a Liberian politician who served as the 20th president of Liberia from 1971 until his assassination in 1980.

Tolbert was an Americo-Liberian and trained as a civil servant before entering the House of Representatives in 1943 for the True Whig Party, then the only established party in Liberia. Tolbert was elected the 23rd vice president of Liberia to William Tubman in 1952 and served in that position until he became president following Tubman's death in 1971.^[1] Tolbert's early presidency saw liberal reforms and the adoption of a Non-Alignment stance, but growing economic troubles and tensions between Americo-Liberians and indigenous Liberians led to instability.

Tolbert was assassinated in the 1980 coup d'état by the People's Redemption Council led by Samuel Doe, marking the end of 133 years of Americo-Liberian rule in Liberia.