Liberia: Monrovia – Providence Island

In 1882, Providence Island was the landing site for the first group of freed African Americans, brought to Africa by the American Colonization Society. These settlers were former slaves or descendants of slaves and the settlement on Providence Island was the first step in establishing Liberia, the first republic in Africa, envisioned as a haven for freed African Americans. Robert Stockton and Eli Ayers, two agents of the ACS, negotiated the purchase of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mesurado River with local chiefs. he settlers named the island Providence Island to reflect their belief that divine intervention had led them to a safe haven and a hope for a new beginning and the establishment of a free society. From Providence Island, the settlers expanded their settlement, eventually establishing Monrovia, named after US President James Monroe, a supporter of the ACS. In 1847, Liberia declared its independence, becoming the first independent republic in Africa, with Providence Island being considered the nation’s birthplace.