Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson definition of Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson (sĭrlēf`), 1938–, Liberian political leader. Educated in the United States (Harvard, M.P.A., 1971), she worked in the Liberian government (1964–67, 1977–80), at the World Bank (1972–77, 1980–81), and in private banking (1980, 1986–92) before before joining (1992–97) the African bureau at the United Nations Development Program. Also active in Liberian politics, she was jailed in the 1980s by Samuel Doe Doe, Samuel Kanyon, 1951–90, Liberian military ruler (1980–90). Doe joined the army after the 11th grade, and rose to master sergeant. In 1980 Doe led a group of rebels in a successful coup. President William Tolbert was killed and Doe took power.
..... Click the link for more information. 's regime, charged with treason by Charles Taylor's regime, and twice went into exile. She ran for Liberian president in 1997 but lost to Taylor, and returned to the private sector as a financial consultant. Running again in 2005, she defeated former soccer star George Weah after a runoff, becoming the first woman to be elected president of an African nation.