Alfred Francis Russell (1817–1884) — the 10th president of Liberia from 1883 to 1884 — was born into slavery before becoming a missionary, planter and politician.
This year is the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Russell was born Aug. 25, 1817, in Lexington, Kentucky, the mixed-race son of Amelie “Milly” Crawford, an African-American slave, and John Russell.
Alfred Russell and his mother were freed in 1833, along with his cousin, Lucy Russell, and her four children.
Soon the free slaves emigrated with almost 200 other colonists to Liberia under the sponsorship of the American Colonization Society (ACS).
ACS, which was established in 1816, supported the migration of free African Americans to Africa. Its efforts led to the founding of Liberia in 1822 on the coast of West Africa. Liberia became an independent nation in 1847.
Alfred Russell and his family were among the last of 1,400 settlers to Liberia. He and his family arrived in Liberia on July 11, 1833. Around 146 people survived the voyage but 30 children died on the journey.
The pioneers suffered harsh conditions such as local diseases, poor climate, shortage of supplies, little food, inadequate housing and no medical services. Three of his cousin’s children died from the local fever. Alfred Russell also had the same disease which resulted in an injury in one of his legs. He used a crutch the rest of his life.
In 1855, Russell wrote of his family’s struggles in Africa: “It was so long before we could find Africa out, how to live in it and what to do to live, that it almost cost us death, seeking life.”
At the age of 19, Russell became a Methodist missionary. He served in various posts throughout Liberia for 17 years and later became an Episcopal priest.
Russell was a successful businessman who always employed native laborers.
An early advocate for coffee cultivation in Liberia, he had around 8,000 coffee trees on his 200 acres along the St. Paul River in Montserrado County in 1852. Later he became a major sugar cane grower.
His political career also began in the 1850s when he served in the Liberian Senate for two decades, all while continuing his missionary service.
In the 1881 presidential contest, Anthony Gardiner won the election as Liberia’s president. Russell won the vice presidency.
When poor health forced Gardiner to resign in January 1883, Russell succeeded him as president. But because he, along with Gardiner, had been blamed for Liberia’s losing much of its territory to Britain, Russell was not nominated for president the next term.
He died April 4, 1884, only three months after he left office.
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