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TimeLines of
Liberty
American History - Presidency |
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TimeLine of the Early American
Presidency
The American Presidency - before George Washington
Those who lead the Country from early Rebellion to... and from
the
Declaration of
Independence to the United States Constitution.
Last updated November, 2006. |
Presidents of the
1st Continental Congress:
Peyton Randolph -
Henry Middleton
Presidents of the 2nd Continental Congress
- Peyton Randolph -
John Hancock
Presidents after adoption of the Articles of
Confederation - Henry Laurens -
John Jay - Samuel Huntington
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Presidents under the ratified Articles of
Confederation - Samuel Huntington -
Thomas McKean - John
Hanson -
Elias Boudinot -
Thomas Mifflin - Richard Henry Lee -
John Hancock - Nathaniel
Gorham - Arthur St. Clair -
Cyrus Griffin
Rhymes of Liberty
Rhymes of the Founding
Fathers
Patriotic Poems
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TimeLine of the
Early American
Presidents |
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The early presidencies were more
like a chairmanship. The title usually used had been
"President of the Congress" or "President of Congress". The Continental Congress was the
Government of the United Colonies. The adoption of the Articles of
Confederation in 1777 officially changed the title to "President
of the United States in Congress Assembled", although the
earlier titles remained the custom. The Articles of
Confederation, as a Government did not work well for
federal stability. In 1789 the U.S. Constitution was passed by
Congress to
create the three branches of government, the Executive, the
Representative, and the Judicial branch. The President in the
executive branch becomes the "head of state." Under the
Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation the
president had no or very little power when it was allowed by the
Congress. The Second Continental Congress was the total of the
government using the presidency as a "chairmanship", allowing
"presidential power" only when authorized by the Congress. |
|
1765 |
Stamp
Act
Congress |
The
Stamp Act Congress is held
by delegates from twelve of the British American Colonies which
serves as the precursor to the Continental Congress and the
Revolutionary War. |
|
1774 |
1st. Cont.
Congress |
The
(First) Continental Congress
is assembled. The leaders of the Congress although called
Presidents were more like chairmen than actual Heads of States.
They had very little power when they were allowed any by the
Congress. |
|
1774 |
Continental
Association |
The First
Continental Congress created the Continental Association
(Articles of Association) to ban trade with Great Britain. The
intent was to force England to lighten up on restriction but the
embargo caused the opposite with England becoming more
restrictive against the colonies. |
|
1774 |
President
1st. Cont.
Congress |
Peyton
Randolph is made the President of the
(First) Continental Congress.
He serves from September 5, 1774 to October 21, 1774. He
again resumes the duties of President in 1775
for a short 14 days, resigning due to poor health conditions.
- Peyton Randolph returned to his position as Speaker of the
Virginia House of Burgess,
serving as Congressman from
Pennsylvania in September 1775, but died the next month in
October.
- 2nd Term |
|
1774 |
President
1st. Cont.
Congress |
Henry
Middleton filling in as President
when the (1st.) Continental Congress adjourns, serves from October 22,
1774 until Congress adjourned four days later on October 26th.
During Middleton's short tenure as President he signed the
unanimously approved Petition of Congress to King George III
that had been drafted by John Jay of New
York.
- Henry Middleton was elected, in 1775, as President of the
Provincial Congress of South
Carolina as delegate to the Continental Congress.
Middleton having been declared a traitor by the King was able to
persuade and turn the balance in Carolina to favor the direction
towards independence. Middleton's health caused his
resignation as member of the Congress, allowing for this son Arthur Middleton to serve out
the term of membership where Arthur would cast his vote for independence on
July 2, 1776 to then sign the Declaration of Independence on
August 2, 1776. Henry Middleton becoming State Senator surprised
President Samuel Huntington by voicing
support for England. Since his support was not backed by any
actions against his countrymen he was later forgiven and allowed
to prosper on his South Carolina
plantation.
- More on
Henry Middleton |
|
1774 |
1st. Cont.
Congress |
The first Continental Congress
adjourns dissolving itself on October 26th, 1774. |
|
1775 |
President
2nd Cont.
Congress |
Peyton
Randolph again resumes duties as
President when, in the wake of the battles of Concord and
Lexington, the (2nd) Continental Congress reconvenes on May 10, 1775.
He serves until May 23, 1775.
Being the first president of Congress Assembled some maintain
that Peyton Randolph should be recognized as the first president
of the United States and the other nine who presided be
recognized as well.
- More on
Peyton Randolph |
|
1775 |
President
2nd Cont.
Congress |
John
Hancock becomes the third President
of the Continental Congress, second president under the 2nd
Continental Congress on May 24, 1775 and serves until
October 30, 1777 (Serving a fourth term) . Hancock commissioned
George Washington as Commander-in-chief of
the Army of the United Colonies. Hancock becomes president again
in 1785.
- see
next entry
- 2nd Term |
|
1776 |
Declaration
of Independence
President
2nd Cont.
Congress
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The
Declaration of Independence had been Drafted and is
signed by John Hancock. John Hancock as President is the first to sign the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
- John Hancock's signature is large and bold so the King
could plainly see. Although it seems he always signed
his signature in such a fashion. The Hancock
signature has made the name, "John Hancock," synonymous
with, "signature."
Hancock Signed the orders by Congress that established
the Continental Marines and the Navy.
One might say John Hancock being President at the date
of the Declaration of Independence makes him the first
President of the United States of America. Many
will differ with that analysis, as the president at that
time was not "head of state". |
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- Hancock's 2nd Term |
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|
1777 |
Articles of
Confed. |
The
Articles of Confederation is adopted on November 15, 1777.
The Articles of
Confederation officially changes the title to "President of the
United States in Congress Assembled", although the earlier
titles, "President of the Congress" or "President of
Congress" remained the custom. |
|
1777 |
President
2nd Cont.
Congress |
Henry Laurens was the (fifth term)
fourth President
of the Continental Congress serving from November 1, 1777 until
December 9, 1778.
- After successfully gaining the Dutch support in 1780, he is
captured by the British and is later swapped in a prisoner
exchange for General Cornwallis. During his captivity he refused
an offer to influence his son's activities against the crown.
Laurens is released by the British in early 1782 and becomes one
of the ministers to negotiate peace. With John Adams,
John Jay and Benjamin Franklin the
preliminaries of the Treaty of Paris is signed on November 30th,
1782.
Henry Laurens became the first cremation of this country when
his wishes were carried out, "I solemnly enjoin it on my son,
as an indispensable duty, that, as soon as he conveniently can,
after my decease, he cause my body to be wrapped in twelve yards
of tow-cloth and burned until it be entirely consumed, and then,
collecting my bones, deposit them wherever he may think proper."
- More on
Henry Laurens |
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1778 |
President
2nd Cont.
Congress |
John
Jay was the (sixth term) fifth President of the
Continental Congress serving from December 10, 1778 until
September 27, 1779.
- John Jay was appointed Minister to Spain in 1779 and was with
Adams,
Franklin and Laurens at the signing of
the Treaty of Paris with Britain.
Jay contributed to the writing of the Federalist Papers, which
was in support of a new constitution."
John Jay was appointed by George
Washington in 1789 as the first Chief Justice of the United States.
In 1794 John Jay was appointed an envoy extraordinary and
minister to Great Britain. Jay became Governor of
New York in 1795 declining
re-election and a reappointment as Chief Justice in 1801 when he
retired from public service. John Jay died on May 17,
1829.
"The people who own the country ought to govern it." -
John Jay
"No power on earth has a right to take our property from us
without our consent." - John Jay
- More on
JohnJay |
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1779 |
President
2nd Cont.
Congress |
Samuel
Huntington becomes the (seventh term)
sixth President of
the Continental Congress on September 28, 1779 until he becomes
ill and resigns on July 10, 1781. Huntington remained in office
after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation as the
first President of the United States in Congress Assembled under
the Articles of Confederation. The position was basically just a
title with the duties being chairman/facilitator of the
Congress.
- Samuel Huntington was elected Lieutenant Governor which
included being Chief Judge of the Superior Court of
Connecticut in 1784. Two
years later in 1786 he was elected Governor of
Connecticut.
- see next entry on Huntington |
|
1781 |
Articles of
Confed. |
The
ratification of the Articles of Confederation is completed
on March 1, 1781. The terms of the president is limited to one
year. The title of president changes from "President of the
Continental Congress" to "President of the United States in
Congress Assembled." The ratification also effectively
ceased the "Continental Congress" establishing "The United
States in Congress Assembled". |
|
1781 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Samuel
Huntington resigns on July 6,
1781. There is one position of thought that Samuel Huntington is
the first President of the United States as he was the first
under the Articles of Confederation that bound the colonies
together. Basically it was only a title change but the post was
defined under the Articles of Confederation.
- More on
Samuel Huntington |
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1781 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Thomas McKean
is the second
President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the
Articles of Confederation. He serves from July 10, 1781 until
November 4, 1781. It was Thomas McKean that received
General Washington's
dispatches announcing Cornwallis' surrender.
- McKean was the last person to sign the Declaration of Independence in
January, 1777. In 1804 Thomas McKean turned down his party's
nomination for Vice President under
Thomas Jefferson. He
stated, "...President of
the United States in Congress Assembled in the year of 1781 (a
proud year for Americans) equaled any merit or pretensions of
mine and cannot now be increased by the office of Vice
President."
- More on
Thomas McKean |
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1781 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
John
Hanson is the third President of the
United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of
Confederation. He serves from November 5, 1781 until November 4,
1782. He is the first to use the title of President of the
United States in Congress Assembled. As president John Hanson
expressed the thanks of congress for
General Washington's victory
at Yorktown.
During the term of John Hanson several programs were initiated
that placed America in a world position. Among them was the Post
Office Department, a national bank, the beginning of the first
census, a uniform system of coinage and the signing of a treaty
with Holland affirming the debt to Holland of a previous loan to
help in the American Revolution.
- John Hanson's health became frail forcing his retirement from
public office. He died on November 15, 1783.
- More on
John Hanson |
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1782 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Elias
Boudinot is the fourth President of
the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of
Confederation. He serves from November 5, 1782 until November 2,
1783. Elias Boudinot, as President of the Continental Congress,
signed the Treaty of Paris ending hostilities between the newly
formed United States of America and Great Britain.
- Boudinot continued serving as a congressional delegate through
the 1st, 2d, and 3d Congresses from 1789 to 1795. He
became the second director of the mint at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in 1795 holding
the position until 1805. Resigning from public life Boudinot
lived out his life at Burlington,
New Jersey becoming a scholar of biblical literature. Elias
Boudinot became a trustee of Princeton University endowing the
founding of the Natural History Department in 1805. He became a
member of the American board of commissioners for foreign
missions in 1813. In 1816 Elias Boudinot assisted in the
founding of the American Bible Society becoming its first
president. Elias Boudinot published a piece called, "The Age- of
Revelation," in 1793 as a reply to Thomas Paine's oration before
the Society of the Cincinnati in 1790.
- More on
Elias Boudinot. |
|
1783 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Thomas
Mifflin is the fifth President of the
United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of
Confederation. He serves from November 3, 1783 until June 3, 1784
when congress adjourned. President Mifflin receives the
resignation of General George
Washington as Commander in Chief. Thomas Mifflin signs the
Definitive Treaty of Peace on January 14, 1784.
Thomas Mifflin served in the
Pennsylvania Legislature becoming Speaker in 1785. In 1787
he was elected as a delegate to Constitutional Convention that
framed today's Constitution of the United States of America. He
became one of the signers of the Constitution on September 17,
1787. From 1788 to 1790 Mifflin served as a member of the
Supreme Executive Council of
Pennsylvania, presiding as its president. He presided over
the Constitutional Convention for a new Pennsylvania
constitution. Mifflin served three terms as Governor of
Pennsylvania leaving that
office in 1799. Thomas Mifflin died in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania on January 30,
1800.
- More on
Thomas Mifflin |
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1783 |
Congress
Assembled |
George Washington is received
by United States President Thomas Mifflin
and Congress on December 23, 1783. Refusing to declare
himself King or dictator George
Washington resigns the commission as Commander-in-Chief to
the President of the United States. |
|
1784 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Richard Henry Lee is
the sixth President of the United States in Congress Assembled
under the Articles of Confederation. He serves from November 30,
1784 until November 22, 1785.
- Richard Henry Lee became a Senator from
Virginia. He had opposed the
adoption of the Constitution fearing a consolidated national
power. Lee proposed the 10th Amendment to the
Constitution; "The powers not delegated
by the constitution to the United States, nor prohibited by it
to the states, are reserved to the states respectively."
The words "granted" for
"delegated," was substituted and at the end the words "or to the people," was added prior to
adoption. Failing health caused his resignation from the Senate
in 1792. He retired on his estate in Chantilly to live another
two years.
- More on
Richard Henry Lee. |
|
1785 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
John Hancock is
the seventh President of the United States in Congress Assembled
under the Articles of Confederation. He again serves as
president from November 23,
1785 until June 6, 1786.
- John Hancock retired as President due to a condition called
gout. He continued serving in his native state of
Massachusetts helping to form
the state's constitution. Hancock was elected to the
Massachusetts governorship to serve for five years and then
declined reelection. In 1787 he was again elected to be
Governor, serving until his death in 1793.
- Hancock's 1st Term
- More on John
Hancock. |
|
1786 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Nathaniel
Gorham is the eighth President of the
United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of
Confederation. Nathaniel Gorham assumed the Chair of Congress on
May 15, 1786 in John Hancock's absence.
Gorham was elected June 5, 1786 to serve until November
13, 1786.
- Gorham continued as delegate to the U. S. Congress Assembled
until 1787. Nathaniel Gorham served several years as Judge of
Middlesex County Court, of Common Pleas. Most notable is his
being Chair for most of the Constitutional Convention where he
exercised much influence on the framing of the Constitution. It
was Gorham's suggestion that resulted in the change of the
ration of representation in the lower house of Congress. He
exercised a strong influence in the
Massachusetts State Convention
for the ratification of the Constitution. Gorham died in Charlestown in 1796, having made a fortune in
real estate in the northwestern parts of
Massachusetts.
- More on
Nathaniel Gorham. |
|
1787 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Arthur
St. Clair
is the ninth President of the United States in Congress
Assembled under the Articles of Confederation. He serves from
February 2, 1787 until October 29, 1787.
- St. Clair, breaking with the British, became a Colonel of the
Pennsylvania militia. George Washington made him a Brigadier General in 1776 sending
him to help organize the New Jersey militia. St. Clair took part in
Washington's crossing of the Delaware
River.
Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor of the newly formed
Northwest Territory in 1789 to serve three years until November
22, 1802. He was named commander of Federal Troops in the
territory on March 4, 1791. Returning to Ligonier Valley,
Pennsylvania he earned his
income in the iron business. Arthur St. Clair died on August 31,
1818 near his earlier home of "Hermitage," near Youngstown,
Pennsylvania.
- More on
Arthur St. Clair. |
|
1787 |
Congress
Assembled |
The
Continental Congress orders a Constitutional Convention. The
Congress on February 21, 1787 resolved, "It is expedient that on
the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who
shall have been appointed by the several States be held at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the sole and express purpose of revising the
Articles of Confederation." |
|
1787 |
Constitut.
Convent. |
- So few
delegates arrived on time at the Constitutional Convention on
May 14th that a quorum was not obtained and deliberations not
begun until May 25th.
- George Washington presided over the convention.
- The new United States Constitution was completed and submitted
for signing on September 17, 1787.
- A consensus of compromise is made with no one fully satisfied.
Benjamin Franklin states, "There are several parts of this
Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not
sure I shall never approve them." Then Franklin explaining why
he will approve the document says, "because I expect no better
and because I am not sure that it is not the best." |
|
1787 |
Constitut.
Ratificat. |
-
Delaware is the first to
ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
- Pennsylvania is the 2nd to
ratify the Constitution on December 12, 1787.
- New Jersey is the 3rd to
ratify the Constitution on December 18, 1787. |
|
1788 |
President
Congress
Assembled |
Cyrus
Griffin
is the tenth President of the United States in Congress
assembled under the Articles of Confederation. He served from
January 22, 1788 until March 4, 1789. Griffin was the last
of the first Presidents and presided over the dismantling of the
government of the United States in Congress Assembled.
- Cyrus Griffin was Commissioner to the Creek Nation in 1789. He
was a United States Court Judge for the district of
Virginia from December, 1789
until his death on December 14, 1810.
- More on
Cyrus Griffin. |
|
1788 |
Constitut.
Ratificat. |
-
Georgia is the 4th state
to ratify the Constitution on January 2, 1788.
- Connecticut is the 5th
state to ratify the Constitution on January 9, 1788.
- Massachusetts is the 6th
state to ratify the Constitution on February 6, 1788.
- Maryland is the 7th state to
ratify the Constitution on April 28, 1788.
- South Carolina is the 8th
state to ratify the Constitution on May 23, 1788.
- New Hampshire is the 9th
state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
- Only 9 states are needed to ratify the Constitution but it was
clear that approval by the larger states of
New York and
Virginia were needed for federal stability.
- Virginia is the 10th state
to ratify the Constitution on June 25, 1788.
- New York is the 11th state
to ratify the Constitution on July 26, 1788. |
|
1788 |
U. S.
Congress |
-
Congress sets the Capital to be New York,
NY on September 13,
1788. |
|
1789 |
Constitut.
Ratificat |
- Final implementation of the
Constitution was delayed from March 4,1789, due to a lack of a quorum
in both houses. Finally on April 1st in the House and April 6th in
the Senate quorums were obtained.
- The ratification of the U.S. Constitution changes the title
and powers of the President.
- The two Houses met together to
count electoral votes. George
Washington was elected unanimously the first "President of
the United States", as
Head of State under the new U. S. Constitution .
John Adams was elected
Vice President. |
|
1789 |
Constitut.
Ratificat |
-
North Carolina is the 12th
state to ratify the Constitution on November 21, 1789. |
|
1790 |
Constitut.
Ratificat |
-
Rhode Island holds out until
the obviousness of its weaker position among the others required
approval, becoming the 13th state to ratify the Constitution on
November 21, 1790. |
|
1790 |
U. S.
Congress |
-
Congress moves the Capital from New York,
NY to Philadelphia,
PA in 1790, later in
1800 it was moved to Washington,
DC. |
|
1800 |
U.S. Congress |
-
Congress moves the Capital from Philadelphia,
PA in
1800, moving it to Washington, DC. |
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