The Peru Gazette

He emigrated to the colony of Liberia in 1822, where he served as the United States government’s agent (de facto governor) for two different terms: one from August 1822 until April 1824, and another from August 1824 until March 1828. He helped create a constitution for Liberia that enabled blacks to hold positions in the government. African Americans and their descendants, known as Americo-Liberians dominated that government into the late 20th century. This was unlike what happened in the early decades of the neighboring British colony of Sierra Leone, which was dominated by whites although also founded for the resettlement of free blacks from Britain and Upper Canada.

Ashmun’s letters home and his book, History of the American Colony in Liberia, constitute the earliest written history of the Liberia colony.

Ashmun was brilliant, driven and dedicated to his religion and to any responsibility he took on whether as an author, teacher, school principal, preacher, editor, or the principal agent in Liberia for the American Colonization Society insuring the survival of the colonists.

Participants in this presentation will learn about his short life and family which also excelled within their communities and may also be described as extraordinary individuals.