William Tolbert

William Richard Tolbert Jr. (13 May 1913 – 12 April 1980) was the 20th President of Liberia from 1971 until he was assassinated in 1980 Liberian coup d'état in order by Samuel Doe.^[1]

William Tolbert
Tolbert in 1978
20th President of Liberia
In office 23 July 1971 – 12 April 1980
Vice President	vacant (1971–1972) James Edward Greene (1972–1977) Bennie Dee Warner (1977–1980)
Preceded by	William Tubman
Succeeded by	Samuel Doe
23rd Vice President of Liberia
In office 1 January 1952 – 23 July 1971
President	William Tubman
Preceded by	Clarence Simpson
Succeeded by	James Edward Greene
Personal details
Born	William Richard Tolbert Jr. (1913-05-13)13 May 1913 Bensonville, Liberia
Died	12 April 1980(1980-04-12) (aged 66) Monrovia, Liberia
Cause of death	Assassination by firearm
Resting place	Palm Grove Cemetery
Political party	True Whig
Spouse(s)	Victoria A. David (1916-1997)
Children	8

Death

On April 12, 1980, Tolbert was shot dead in Monrovia early today in a coup by disgruntled Army enlisted men ostensibly representing the long disenfranchised indigenous population of that country. He was shot three times in the head by a band of soldiers who broke into the executive mansion at 1 a.m., according to reports reaching here. Samuel Doe commands the soldiers by overthrow and execute Tolbert.