Hilary Teague

Hilary Teague (1802 – May 21, 1853) was an Americo-Liberian merchant, journalist, and politician in the early years of the West African nation of Liberia. A native of the US state of Virginia, he was known for his oratory skills, and he pushed for Liberian independence from the American Colonization Society. Teague drafted the Liberian Declaration of Independence in 1847 and was later a member of the Senate of Liberia and served as the new country’s first Secretary of State.

Teage was born free in the United States in the state of Virginia in 1805. His father, Colin Teage, was a prominent black Baptist preacher in both Richmond, Virginia, and later in Liberia who had purchased his freedom. The family emigrated to West Africa in 1821 to help establish a colony for former slaves in what is now the nation of Liberia.

The younger Teage served as a Baptist minister in Monrovia and was a merchant trading in palm oil. In 1835, Teage became the owner and editor of the Liberia Herald in Monrovia, after John Brown Russwurm left to become governor of the Republic of Maryland. As editor, Teage became a big promoter of Liberian independence and combined republicanism, black nationalism, and Christianity to make his case. He remained the newspaper's head until 1849, when he left to devote full attention to politics.

In 1835, Teage became Colonial Secretary for the Liberian colony. In 1839, he was the clerk of the convention which presented the settlers' views to the American Colonization Society regarding constitutional reform. He was later an instrumental figure at the Constitutional Convention of 1847 - representing Montserrado County - in both debating and ratifying Liberia's constitution. He also wrote the country's Declaration of Independence, which railed against their treatment as slaves and second class citizens in the United States. Teague became the republic's first Secretary of State after Liberia declared independence in 1847. Teage also composed Liberia’s hymn of independence.

He died in Liberia on May 21, 1853, and at the time was the country's attorney general.