Presidents of Congress Under the Articles of Confederation
(1781-1789)
The list below names the men who were elected to serve as the President of Congress while the United States operated under the Articles of Confederation
The Second Continental Congress, the governing body that wrote and approved the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, had eight Presidents of Congress prior to the start of the new official government under the Articles. Thus, the first “President of the United States in Congress Assembled,” (the official title), was John Hanson, who was chosen by Congress to serve for the first one-year term in what was largely a ceremonial role.
The List of men who served as The President of the United States in Congress Assembled:
John Hanson (November 5, 1781 – November 3, 1782)
Elias Boudinot (November 4, 1782 – November 2, 1783)
Thomas Mifflin (November 3 1783 – November 29, 1784)
Richard Henry Lee (November 30, 1784 – November 22, 1785)
John Hancock (November 23, 1785 – June 5, 1786)
Nathaniel Gorham (June 6, 1786 – Feb 1, 1787)
Arthur St. Clair (February 2, 1787 – January 21 ,1788)
Cyrus Griffin (January 22, 1788 – April 30, 1789)
Griffin was the final President of Congress of the Confederation Congress, as that office was abolished with the activation of the new United States Constitution, the seating of the first Congress under the new constitution, and the inauguration of the first actual President of the United States, George Washington. Washington’s inauguration took place on April 30, the same day Cyrus Griffin’s time in office ended. Most of these men went on to serve in various roles in the new Federal Government.
