William Tubman's Birthday in 2024

William Tubman's Day

William Tubman's Day is a national holiday in the Republic of Liberia on November 29th each year.

This holiday honours William Tubman, the longest-serving President in Liberia's history on the anniversary of his birthday.

History of William Tubman's Day

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman was born on November 29th 1895, in the coastal town of Harper. Born into poverty, Tubman's father was a strict disciplinarian. He made William and his four siblings sleep on floor pallets as he thought beds were too soft and didn't help in character development.

Initially, William's thoughts were to follow a religious path and he planned to be a preacher. However, he took a temporary job in a government office and he decided to become involved in public service, becoming a lawyer in 1917.

Tubman's interest in politics soon followed. He joined the True Whig party and in 1923, aged 28, he became the youngest senator in the history of Liberia.

He became the 17th different President of Liberia in January 1944, aged 48, and went to on to serve for 27 years until his death on July 23rd 1971. Regarded as the "father of modern Liberia", he was responsible for enacting many reforms and social policies such as the enactment of suffrage and property rights for all adult females and the establishment of a nationwide public school system. Tubman also pushed a policy of national unification by improving the rights of all tribesmen and contributed to the emancipation of African colonial territories into statehood.

Tubman's legacy also includes his economic "Open Door" policy which increased foreign investment in Liberia. By the time of his death, Liberia could boast the largest mercantile fleet in the world and the world's largest rubber industry, making the country the envy of many other African nations.

Each year, the current President of Liberia will issue a Proclamation declaring November 29th as a national holiday to mark the birth anniversary of former President William V.S. Tubman.

The Proclamation orders and directs all government ministries and agencies, business houses, as well as market places to remain closed during the observance of the day from 6 AM to 6 PM.

Did you know?

The current president of Liberia is George Weah, who was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995.

The only other president of Liberia who also has a national holiday dedicated to him is Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Liberia's first president.

At the 3rd session of the 42nd Legislature of the Republic of Liberia, legislation was enacted commemorating November 29th, the birth anniversary of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, 18th President of the Republic of Liberia, each year, in keeping with the will of the Liberian people.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the observance is in recognition of President Tubman’s productive and meaningful services to Liberia, including his Integration Policy, the granting of suffrage to Liberian women, Open Door Policy as well as many other socio-economic developments policies and initiatives; particularly highlighting his contributions to the emancipation of African colonial territories into statehood. 

“In recognition of the numerous contributions, profound changes and lasting accomplishments made during his administration,” the proclamation said, “the citizens of the Republic, desirous of showing their deep appreciation, esteem and approval of his outstanding, noble and remarkable leadership, did petition and requested the Legislature of this Nation to issue a permanent record of their sentiments in honor of his birth for posterity.”