America's Forgotten Presidents.

America's Forgotten Presidents. (Originally posted at MartialTalk 11-08-2008)

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Who was the First President of the United States?

If you answered "Duh. Everyone knows it was George Washington" you'd be wrong.

George Washington was not the first, but somewhere between the 9th and 20th man to hold the title.

Prior to the ratification of the US Constitution, the US was operating under the Articles of Confederation. (Side note, this included an offer to Canada to join us in our fun nation building experiment).

Prior to the AoC, there were 2 Continental Congresses.

Here (thanks to Wiki Magic) is the list of America's Forgotten Presidents.

List of presidents

The following men served as the president of the First Continental Congress:

• Peyton Randolph (September 5, 1774 – October 21, 1774)
• Henry Middleton (October 22, 1774 – October 26, 1774)

The following men served as the president of the Second Continental Congress:

• Peyton Randolph (May 10, 1775 – May 23, 1775)
• John Hancock (May 24, 1775 – October 31, 1777)
• Henry Laurens (November 1, 1777 – December 9, 1778)
• John Jay (December 10, 1778 – September 27, 1779)
• Samuel Huntington (September 28, 1779 – March 1, 1781)

When the Articles of Confederation were ratified on March 1, 1781, no elections were held or even discussed for a selecting a new president.[4] Instead, Samuel Huntington continued to serve as President of Congress until he asked to be relieved due to ill health on July 6, 1781.[4] On July 9, Samuel Johnston was selected as Huntington's replacement, but he declined the office the next day, and so Thomas McKean was elected as the next presiding officer.[4]
The following men served as President of Congress after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation:

• Samuel Huntington (March 1, 1781 – July 9, 1781)
• Thomas McKean (July 10, 1781 – November 4, 1781)
• John Hanson (November 5, 1781 – November 3, 1782)
• Elias Boudinot (November 4, 1782 – November 2, 1783)
• Thomas Mifflin (November 3, 1783 – October 31, 1784)
• Richard Henry Lee (November 30, 1784 – November 6, 1785)
• John Hancock (November 23, 1785 – June 5, 1786) Due to Hancock's failing health, he did not report to Congress, and the following two chairmen acted as president in his stead:
  • David Ramsay (November 23, 1785 – May 12, 1786)
  • Nathaniel Gorham (May 15, 1786 – June 5, 1786)
• Nathaniel Gorham (June 6, 1786 – November 5, 1786)
• Arthur St. Clair (February 2, 1787 – November 4, 1787)
• Cyrus Griffin (January 22, 1788 – March 4, 1789)

These men while holding a similar title, held none of the power and authority that began with Washington, and has grown to what we have today.


Just a little American Trivia to start your day with.