Zacharia B. Roberts

Zacharia B. Roberts (September 24, 1834 – ?) was an American-born Liberian minister, jurist and politician who served as Chief Justice of Liberia from 1895 to 1910. Biography Roberts was born on September 24, 1834, in Savannah, Georgia, U.S. He emigrated to Liberia in May 1849, sailing on the boat Huma and arriving at Sinoe on June 27, 1849. A student of theology, he entered the Baptist mission school at Grand Bassa in 1853, under the teaching of Rev. John H. Cheesman. He was ordained a Christian minister in 1858. In 1859, it was noted in the African Repository that Roberts was "laboring earnestly at Sino, and preaching to the natives in its vicinity". Late in his life, he was a church elder and still occasionally preached. In 1884, he became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, a role he held through 1894. After the resignation of Chief Justice C. L. Parsons, Roberts was appointed by President Joseph James Cheeseman in 1895 to become the new Chief Justice of Liberia. He served in this role until 1910, when he was succeeded by James A. Toliver.

Roberts received several honors, including being named an honorary Doctor of Laws by Liberia College. He was also named Knight Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption by President Hilary R. W. Johnson.