Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-1876)

Joseph Jenkins Roberts, first president of Liberia, was born free in Norfolk. After moving to Petersburg, he worked in a barbershop at Wythe and Sycamore Streets and gained an education by reading extensively. In 1829 Roberts and his family sailed for Liberia, a settlement of the American Colonization Society. There he became a prosperous merchant. Elected president when Liberia won independence, he served from 1848 to 1856 and again from 1872 to 1876. He made several diplomatic visits to the U.S. Roberts helped found Liberia College (now the University of Liberia), and was its president for 20 years.