Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Samuel Doe

Role / Field:

Liberian politician and military officer who ruled Liberia from 1980 to 1990.

Born:

1951-05-06

Died:

1990-09-09

Century / Era:

1951s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Samuel Kanyon Doe (6 May 1951 – 9 September 1990) was a Liberian politician and military officer who served as the 21st President of Liberia from 1986 until his execution in 1990. He ruled Liberia as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council (PRC) from 1980 to 1986 and then as the first native president from 1986 to 1990. A member of the Krahn ethnic group, Doe was a master sergeant in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) when he staged the violent 1980 coup d'état that overthrew President William Tolbert and the True Whig Party, becoming the first indigenous leader of Liberia and ending 133 years of Americo-Liberian rule. Doe suspended the Constitution of Liberia, assumed the rank of general, and established the PRC as a provisional military government with himself as de facto head of state.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Doe dissolved the PRC in 1984 and attempted to legitimize his regime, with a new democratic constitution and a general election held in 1985. He won with 51% of the votes, but the election had widespread allegations of election fraud. Doe opened Liberian ports to Canadian, Chinese, and European ships, which brought in considerable foreign investment and earned Liberia's reputation as a tax haven...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abanindranath Tagore — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Agrippina Vaganova — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Foundational Russian ballerina and creator of the influential Vaganova method.
• Al Franken — Contemporary (Born in 1951) (1951): Comedian, writer, and politician known for SNL and his tenure as a U.S. Senator.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Aishwarya Lekshmi — Contemporary (Born in 1990) (1990): Acclaimed Indian actress working primarily in Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
• Adriana Caselotti — Shared historical date (05-06 · Born) (1916): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Agnes Smedley — Shared historical date (05-06 · Died) (1950): American journalist, writer, and activist supporting Indian Independence and Chinese Communism.
• Adam Sandler — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Afrojack — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1987): Dutch DJ and record producer, known professionally as Afrojack.
• 1951 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1951
• May 6 (05-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 6
• 1990 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1990
• September 9 (09-09) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 9

Frequently Asked Questions about Samuel Doe