Who was the 1st President of the United States?

Do you know who the first President of the United States was? Think back to your high school history books. Think back to senior year, government class. Yes, you studied the American Revolutionary War so who was the first president?

I know your going to say George Washington but guess what George Washington was not our first president. George Washington was the father of our country but Washington didn't take office until April 30, 1789 and the United States declared its independence in 1776. The United States was a nation for several years before the Constitution took affect. The nation was held together by what was called the Articles of Confederation.

So who was running our country for several years after our birth? Well, first the real birth of the United States of America was on March 1, 1781; when the Articles of Confederation took affect. On March 1, the President of the Continental Congress officially became the President of the United States in Congress Assembled.

So you are still asking, who was running our country? When the Articles of Confederation took affect Samuel Huntington was the President of the United States in Congress Assembled, September 28, 1779 to July 6, 1781. So consequently, Samuel Huntington was our first president. Never heard of him, have you? Bet you have never heard of Thomas McKean either. He was the President of the United States in Congress Assembled from July 10, 1781 to November 5, 1781. The first man that served a one-year term was John Hanson, November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782.

But what about the years before the Articles of Confederation when the country was the United Colonies of America; here is the list of men that were the Presidents of the Continental Congress starting in the year 1774.

Peyton Randolph - September 5, 1774 to October 22, 1774 and May 20 to May 24, 1775.

Henry Middleton - October 22, 1774 to October 26, 1774.

John Hancock - October 27, 1775 to July 1, 1776.

Presidents of the Continental Congress United States of America when the Declaration of Independence was officially written and traveling the country side to be signed by the Continental Congress delegates.

John Hancock - July 2, 1776 to October 29, 1777.

Henry Laurens - November 1, 1777 to December 9, 1778.

John Jay - December 10, 1778 to September 28, 1779.

Samuel Huntington - September 28, 1779 to February 28, 1781.

This brings us up the 1781 when the Articles of Confederation took affect on March 1.

The first president to be elected under the Articles of Confederation was Thomas McKean. McKean was the one that received the dispatch from George Washington announcing the surrender of Cornwallis.

Under the Articles of Confederation the office of the President didn't have full power as the Presidents who serve under the Constitution. But the Articles of Confederation did give congress authority to appoint one of their members to preside and could not serve for more than one year in any term of three years.

The first man to be elected was John Hanson. His exact title was the "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." The Articles of Confederation didn't spell out the exact powers the President had so John Hanson began to form various departments of the government. He also did have the authority to correspond and negotiate with foreign governments.

John Hanson approved the Great Seal of the United States that we still use today, he also:

Gave orders to the military towards the end of the American Revolutionary War.

Officially "received" General George Washington after the victory at Yorktown.

Established the U.S. Treasury Department.

1st Secretary of War.

1st Foreign Affairs Department.

The original thirteen colonies still held territories beyond the Appalachian Mountains and John Hanson let the fight of statehood.

Basically, John Hanson started the construction of our great nation. John Hanson held the highest office of our land.

There were a total of eight men that held office before George Washington stepped in. After John Hanson there was:

Elias Boudinot - November 4, 1782 to November 3, 1783.

Thomas Mifflin - November 3, 1783 to June 3, 1784.

Richard Henry Lee - November 30, 1784 to November 23, 1785.

John Hancock - November 23, 1785 to June 6, 1786.

Nathaniel Gorham - June 1786 to November 13, 1786.

Arthur St. Clair - February 2, 1787 to October 29, 1787.

Cyrus Griffin - January 22, 1788 to March 4, 1789.

First President Of the United States - United States Constitution - George Washington.

It's sad that people are not taught about these men that helped form our young nation into a great nation. They were courageous and bold in their leadership. If it weren't for them we wouldn't have a nation to call our own. We should learn about each of these men and never forget them.