Fourteen American Presidents before George Washington
(actually 16 presidencies, 14 different men holding the office)


The Continental Congress, 1774 to 1781

1.(1774) Peyton Randolph
	a. from Virginia
	b. 1st President of the 1st Continental Congress
2.(1774) Henry Middleton
	a. from South Carolina
	b. Served 5 days; Owned 800 Slaves
3.(1775) Peyton Randolph (second term)
	a. from Virginia
	b. 1st President of the 2nd Continental Congress
4.(1776 to 77) John Hancock
	a. from Boston, Mass.
	b. 1st Signer of Declaration of Independence
5.(1777 to 78) Henry Laurens
	a. from South Carolina
	b. Outspoken critic of governmental corruption
6.(1778 to 79) John Jay
	a. from New York
	b. Monetary collapse; also tried & censured Thomas Paine
7.(1779 to 81) Samuel Huntington
	a. from Connecticut
	b. 1st President under Articles of Confederation

The United States of America, 1781 to 1789

8.(1781) Thomas McKeon
	a. from Delaware
	b. Served 4 months
9.(1781 to 82) John Hanson
	a. from Maryland
	b. Swedish ancestry; oldest president, at 60
10.(1782 to 83) Elias Boudinot
	a. from New Jersey
	b. Also Secretary for Foreign Affairs
11.(1783 to 84) Thomas Mifflin
	a. from Pennsylvania
	b. Peace Treaty with Great Britain ratified
12.(1784 to 85) Richard Henry Lee
	a. from Virginia
	b. Later a leading Anti-Federalist
13.(1785) John Hancock (second term)
	a. from Boston, Mass.
	b. Resigned due to ill health
14.(1786) Nathaniel Gorham
	a. from Boston, Mass.
	b. Invited Prince Henry of Prussia to become King of U.S.
15.(1787) Arthur St. Clair
	a. Born in Scotland
	b. Northwest Ordinance passed
16.(1787 to 89) Cyrus Griffin
	a. from Virginia
	b. New Federal Constitution approved

The United States of America, 1789 to Present

Presidency becomes an independent Federal office, separated from Congress
Presidential electors selected by state legislatures until 1824