George Washington took the oath as the first President of the United States in 1789, yet he was not the first man to bear the title “President.” Before him, 14 different leaders served as President of Congress.
The origins trace back to 1774, when delegates assembled at Philadelphia’s Carpenters’ Hall for the First Continental Congress. Their purpose was to mount a coordinated response to the British King and Parliament in the wake of the Boston Tea Party and a series of punitive measures the colonists dubbed the Intolerable Acts.
At that time, colonists still considered themselves British subjects and identified as Pennsylvanians, Delawareans, or New Jerseyans rather than Americans.
As delegates from the various colonies convened to discuss strategy, they required someone to preside over their sessions, greet visiting dignitaries, and formally sign official papers.
That individual was given the title of President of Congress.
Peyton Randolph was the first to hold the position. He was followed by a succession of leaders, among them John Hancock, renowned for his prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence, and John Jay.
John Jay would later become the inaugural Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court during George Washington’s presidency.
Across the years, 14 men served as President of Congress before the Constitution established the executive powers of the presidency. It was the Electoral College that ultimately selected George Washington as the nation’s first President by unanimous vote.
Letters, signatures, and other historical records preserved in the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania illuminate the lives and contributions of these early leaders.
Visitors can also take in a complimentary exhibit that explores the decade before and after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and Carpenters’ Hall additionally collaborate on Cocktails & Congress, a program that offers attendees a chance to hear the issues debated during that first Continental Congress.
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Carpenter’s Hall, 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106