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'''James Spriggs Payne''' (December 19, 1819 – January 31, 1882) served as the fourth and eighth [[president of Liberia]], from 1868 to 1870 and from 1876 to 1878.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=7shamTdW7OsC&pg=PA72 Jesse N. Mongrue, ''Liberia: America's Footprint in Africa: Making the Cultural, Social, and Political Connections''], iUniverse.com, 2013, p. 72.</ref> He was the last president to belong to the [[Republican Party (Liberia)|Republican Party]].
'''James Spriggs Payne''' (December 19, 1819 – January 31, 1882) served as the fourth and eighth [[president of Liberia]], from 1868 to 1870 and from 1876 to 1878.<ref name=":0">[https://books.google.com/books?id=7shamTdW7OsC&pg=PA72 Jesse N. Mongrue, ''Liberia: America's Footprint in Africa: Making the Cultural, Social, and Political Connections''], iUniverse.com, 2013, p. 72.</ref> He was the last president to belong to the [[Republican Party (Liberia)|Republican Party]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Payne was born in [[Richmond, Virginia]], in 1819 to free [[mixed-race]] parents. Payne grew up in a deeply religious [[Methodist]] family and was a devout [[Christians|Christian]].<ref name=dacb>[http://www.dacb.org/stories/liberia/payne_james.html "Payne, James Spriggs"], ''Dictionary Of African Christian Biography''</ref> His father, David M. Payne, was a Methodist minister and was ordained a [[deacon]] by the [[Virginia Conference]] in 1824.<ref>Melton (2007), p. 58.</ref> Payne was noted for having a rather light complexion, with some estimates claiming that he was indeed an [[octoroon]]—having seven-eights European ancestry and one-eighth African ancestry. When Payne was ten years old, his family emigrated to [[Liberia]] on the ship ''The Harriet'', the same ship as [[Joseph Jenkins Roberts]], Liberia's future first president, under the auspices of the [[American Colonization Society]].<ref>[http://ccharity.com/liberia/shipharriet1829.htm "Roll Of Emigrants That Have Been Sent To The Colony Of Liberia, Western Africa, By The American Colonization Society And Its Auxiliaries, To September 1843"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705224429/http://www.ccharity.com/liberia/shipharriet1829.htm |date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>
Payne was born in [[Richmond, Virginia]], in 1819 to free [[mixed-race]] parents. Payne grew up in a deeply religious [[Methodist]] family and was a devout [[Christians|Christian]].<ref name=dacb>[http://www.dacb.org/stories/liberia/payne_james.html "Payne, James Spriggs"], ''Dictionary Of African Christian Biography''</ref> His father, David M. Payne, was a Methodist minister and was ordained a [[deacon]] by the [[Virginia Conference]] in 1824.<ref>Melton (2007), p. 58.</ref> Payne was noted for having a rather light complexion, with some estimates claiming that he was indeed an [[octoroon]]—having seven-eights European ancestry and one-eighth African ancestry. When Payne was ten years old, his family emigrated to [[Liberia]] on the ship ''The Harriet'', the same ship as [[Joseph Jenkins Roberts]], Liberia's future first president, under the auspices of the [[American Colonization Society]].<ref name=":1">[http://ccharity.com/liberia/shipharriet1829.htm "Roll Of Emigrants That Have Been Sent To The Colony Of Liberia, Western Africa, By The American Colonization Society And Its Auxiliaries, To September 1843"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705224429/http://www.ccharity.com/liberia/shipharriet1829.htm |date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>


Aside from religion, the young Payne showed interest in [[politics]] and [[economics]]. He later became a successful writer in these areas.<ref name=dacb/> As an adult, he was appointed by the Liberian government to work to complete the severance of Liberia's ties to the American Colonization Society.<ref name=dacb/>
Aside from religion, the young Payne showed interest in [[politics]] and [[economics]]. He later became a successful writer in these areas.<ref name=dacb/> As an adult, he was appointed by the Liberian government to work to complete the severance of Liberia's ties to the American Colonization Society.<ref name=dacb/>


==Political career==
==Presidency ==
'''First term'''

Payne was elected as the fourth president of Liberia in 1868 and served a single two-year term. During his presidency, he worked to end the slave trade that still took place along Liberia's coast.<ref name=dacb/>
Payne was elected as the fourth president of Liberia in 1868 and served a single two-year term. During his presidency, he worked to end the slave trade that still took place along Liberia's coast.<ref name=dacb/>


'''Relationship with tribes'''
Payne improved government relations with the [[Demographics of Liberia|indigenous communities]] and peoples, whom he believed the newer settlers and politicians had for the most part ignored.<ref name=dacb/>

Payne improved government relations with the [[Demographics of Liberia|indigenous communities]] and peoples, whom he believed the newer settlers and politicians had for the most part ignored.<ref name="dacb" />He was the first President to have established peaceful relationships with the tribes and also seemed interested in formally signing an agreement with the [[Mansoura (disambiguation)|Mansuba]] people and the local tribals in the forests with the help of educated slaves from tribal families who spoke the tribal language.<ref name="dacb" />

'''Foreign policy'''

⚫
He worked to extend Liberia's trading and political ties with Europe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zgKA4cV8SV4C&pg=PA55 Thomas Morris Chester & R. J. M. Blackett, ''Thomas Morris Chester, Black Civil War Correspondent''.]</ref> During his tenure, Denmark and Sweden recognized Liberia's independence, however the economy struggled as [[The Industrial Age]] had taken hold in Europe which meant that Liberia's main source of income the ship industry suffered big losses. Liberia soon struggled to maintain its economy and nearly went bankrupt.<ref name=":0" />

'''Second term'''


Payne was elected a second time in 1876, again serving a single two-year term. Escalating economic difficulties began to weaken the state's dominance over the coastal [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] population. When the financially burdened ACS withdrew its support from the colony in the years after the [[American Civil War]], conditions worsened as Liberia struggled to modernize its largely agricultural economy. The cost of imported goods was far greater than the income generated by the nation's exports of coffee, rice, palm oil, sugarcane, and timber. As a result, Payne made efforts to increase the country's foreign trade. However, despite his efforts Liberia's economy dwindled and the nation barely held on. The Liberian dollar devalued by over 70% due to less imports and excessive exports along with [[Industrialisation|Industrialization]] thanks to [[Industrial Revolution|The Industrial Revolution]].<ref name=":1" /> He served another two year term before retiring. At the end of his political career, Liberia was recognized by most European countries but its currency's constant devaluation and economical situation meant that the Republic was struggling to survive. <ref>{{Cite book |last=K. |first=Vinton, David |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/32856174 |title=Topic : the U.S. Liberian dollar parity : its post₋war economic implications |date=1993 |publisher=[University of Liberia] |oclc=32856174}}</ref> Another problem was that during his second tenure, Britain and Germany were both interested in colonizing the African continent. An independent republic like Liberia was a big thorn and vulnerable. Payne feared that one day the [[Liberian dollar]] would fall and Britain would take over. Towards the end of his tenure he became increasingly paranoid.<ref>{{Citation |title=VIII. James Spriggs Payne (January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878) |date=2011-12-31 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9783598441691.271 |work=The Annual Messages of the Presidents of Liberia 1848-2010 |pages=271–297 |publisher=DE GRUYTER SAUR |access-date=2022-10-15}}</ref>
⚫
He worked to extend Liberia's trading and political ties with Europe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zgKA4cV8SV4C&pg=PA55 Thomas Morris Chester & R. J. M. Blackett, ''Thomas Morris Chester, Black Civil War Correspondent''.]</ref>


Payne was elected a second time in 1876, again serving a single two-year term. Escalating economic difficulties began to weaken the state's dominance over the coastal [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] population. When the financially burdened ACS withdrew its support from the colony in the years after the [[American Civil War]], conditions worsened as Liberia struggled to modernize its largely agricultural economy. The cost of imported goods was far greater than the income generated by the nation's exports of coffee, rice, palm oil, sugarcane, and timber. As a result, Payne made efforts to increase the country's foreign trade.


==Later life and family==
==Later life and family==

Revision as of 14:42, 15 October 2022

James Spriggs Payne
4th and 8th President of Liberia
In office
January 6, 1868 – January 3, 1870
Vice PresidentJoseph Gibson
Preceded byDaniel Bashiel Warner
Succeeded byEdward James Roye
In office
January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878
Vice PresidentCharles Harmon
Preceded byJoseph Jenkins Roberts
Succeeded byAnthony W. Gardiner
Personal details
Born(1819-12-19)December 19, 1819
Richmond, Virginia, United States
DiedJanuary 31, 1882(1882-01-31) (aged 62)
Monrovia, Liberia
Political partyRepublican

James Spriggs Payne (December 19, 1819 – January 31, 1882) served as the fourth and eighth president of Liberia, from 1868 to 1870 and from 1876 to 1878.[1] He was the last president to belong to the Republican Party.

Early life

Payne was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1819 to free mixed-race parents. Payne grew up in a deeply religious Methodist family and was a devout Christian.[2] His father, David M. Payne, was a Methodist minister and was ordained a deacon by the Virginia Conference in 1824.[3] Payne was noted for having a rather light complexion, with some estimates claiming that he was indeed an octoroon—having seven-eights European ancestry and one-eighth African ancestry. When Payne was ten years old, his family emigrated to Liberia on the ship The Harriet, the same ship as Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Liberia's future first president, under the auspices of the American Colonization Society.[4]

Aside from religion, the young Payne showed interest in politics and economics. He later became a successful writer in these areas.[2] As an adult, he was appointed by the Liberian government to work to complete the severance of Liberia's ties to the American Colonization Society.[2]

Presidency

First term

Payne was elected as the fourth president of Liberia in 1868 and served a single two-year term. During his presidency, he worked to end the slave trade that still took place along Liberia's coast.[2]

Relationship with tribes

Payne improved government relations with the indigenous communities and peoples, whom he believed the newer settlers and politicians had for the most part ignored.[2]He was the first President to have established peaceful relationships with the tribes and also seemed interested in formally signing an agreement with the Mansuba people and the local tribals in the forests with the help of educated slaves from tribal families who spoke the tribal language.[2]

Foreign policy

He worked to extend Liberia's trading and political ties with Europe.[5] During his tenure, Denmark and Sweden recognized Liberia's independence, however the economy struggled as The Industrial Age had taken hold in Europe which meant that Liberia's main source of income the ship industry suffered big losses. Liberia soon struggled to maintain its economy and nearly went bankrupt.[1]

Second term

Payne was elected a second time in 1876, again serving a single two-year term. Escalating economic difficulties began to weaken the state's dominance over the coastal indigenous population. When the financially burdened ACS withdrew its support from the colony in the years after the American Civil War, conditions worsened as Liberia struggled to modernize its largely agricultural economy. The cost of imported goods was far greater than the income generated by the nation's exports of coffee, rice, palm oil, sugarcane, and timber. As a result, Payne made efforts to increase the country's foreign trade. However, despite his efforts Liberia's economy dwindled and the nation barely held on. The Liberian dollar devalued by over 70% due to less imports and excessive exports along with Industrialization thanks to The Industrial Revolution.[4] He served another two year term before retiring. At the end of his political career, Liberia was recognized by most European countries but its currency's constant devaluation and economical situation meant that the Republic was struggling to survive. [6] Another problem was that during his second tenure, Britain and Germany were both interested in colonizing the African continent. An independent republic like Liberia was a big thorn and vulnerable. Payne feared that one day the Liberian dollar would fall and Britain would take over. Towards the end of his tenure he became increasingly paranoid.[7]


Later life and family

On leaving political office in 1878, Payne continued his lifelong involvement in church work. In 1880, he was the Liberian delegate at the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.[2] The next year, he was elected president of the Methodist Annual Conference of Liberia.[2] James Spriggs Payne died in Monrovia in 1882.

Legacy and honors

  • In January 1882, he was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree by Liberia College (now University of Liberia) for his life achievements.[2]
  • Spriggs Payne Airport in the Monrovia area is named after him.
  • Besides Payne's descendants in Liberia, the Krio branch of the Blyden family are descended from Payne through his granddaughter Anna Erskine, who was the partner of Edward Wilmot Blyden.

References

  1. ^ a b Jesse N. Mongrue, Liberia: America's Footprint in Africa: Making the Cultural, Social, and Political Connections, iUniverse.com, 2013, p. 72.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Payne, James Spriggs", Dictionary Of African Christian Biography
  3. ^ Melton (2007), p. 58.
  4. ^ a b "Roll Of Emigrants That Have Been Sent To The Colony Of Liberia, Western Africa, By The American Colonization Society And Its Auxiliaries, To September 1843" Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Thomas Morris Chester & R. J. M. Blackett, Thomas Morris Chester, Black Civil War Correspondent.
  6. ^ K., Vinton, David (1993). Topic : the U.S. Liberian dollar parity : its post₋war economic implications. [University of Liberia]. OCLC 32856174.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "VIII. James Spriggs Payne (January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878)", The Annual Messages of the Presidents of Liberia 1848-2010, DE GRUYTER SAUR, pp. 271–297, 2011-12-31, retrieved 2022-10-15

Sources

  • Melton, J. Gordon, A Will to Choose: The origins of African American Methodism, Rowman & Littlefield, 2007, ISBN 0-7425-5265-9
Political offices
Preceded by President of Liberia
1868–1870 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Liberia
1876–1878 		Succeeded by
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