The "Presidents Before Washington" — A Fascinating Constitutional Quirk

You're onto something genuinely fascinating here, and it's not just internet trivia — it's a real historical and constitutional debate. Let me walk you through this properly.

The Core Issue

George Washington became president under the U.S. Constitution in 1789, not 1783 (that's a common mix-up — 1783 is actually when the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War). But before the Constitution existed, the fledgling United States operated under the Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781. Before that, from 1774 onward, the Continental Congress governed without any formal constitution at all. Throughout this period — roughly 1774 to 1789 — there was a rotating cast of men who held the title "President of the Continental Congress" or later "President of the United States in Congress Assembled."

So were they "presidents"? Technically yes, in title. Functionally, no — they had almost none of the power we associate with the presidency. They were essentially presiding officers, like a Speaker of the House — running meetings, signing documents, and serving as ceremonial figureheads. There was no executive branch, no veto power, no command of armies. Real power lay with Congress as a body and, during the war, with military commanders like Washington himself.

That said, here's a rundown of the key figures who held this title before Washington's 1789 inauguration:

Peyton Randolph (1774)

A Virginia lawyer and the first president of the Continental Congress, elected in September 1774. He was a respected elder statesman, the Attorney General of colonial Virginia, and actually George Washington's cousin by marriage. He died suddenly in 1775, so his tenure was brief, but he set the precedent for the role.

Henry Middleton (1774)

A wealthy South Carolina planter who briefly served after Randolph stepped away temporarily. His time was extremely short — essentially a placeholder — and he's often footnoted rather than remembered.

John Hancock (1775–1777)

The big name here, and rightfully famous — not just for his oversized signature on the Declaration of Independence, but because he presided over Congress during the actual vote for independence in July 1776. Hancock was a wealthy Boston merchant who bankrolled much of the early revolutionary cause. Many casual historians point to Hancock as "the real first president" since he was the head of the governing body when the nation declared itself independent. But again — no executive power, just presiding authority.

Henry Laurens (1777–1778)

A South Carolina merchant and slave trader turned revolutionary, Laurens took over from Hancock. His son, John Laurens, was a close aide to Washington. Henry Laurens later had a dramatic capture by the British while sailing to Europe and spent time imprisoned in the Tower of London — one of the few Americans ever held there.

John Jay (1778–1779)

Yes, the same John Jay who later became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. A New York lawyer, Jay presided during a critical stretch of the war and later became a key diplomat, helping negotiate the Treaty of Paris that ended the war in 1783.

Samuel Huntington (1779–1781)

A Connecticut judge, Huntington served the longest of the pre-Confederation presidents. He was in office when the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified in March 1781 — meaning he holds a real claim to being the first President of the United States under a unified national government, even though it wasn't yet the Constitution we know today.

Thomas McKean (1781)

A Delaware and Pennsylvania political figure who briefly served right as the Articles took effect. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

John Hanson (1781–1782)

This is the name that shows up most often in "first real president" debates online. Hanson was a Maryland merchant and the first person to serve a full term as "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the ratified Articles of Confederation. Some enthusiasts — and even a few historical plaques — call him the "first President of the United States." He dealt with a bankrupt treasury, a demoralized army, and interstate squabbles, giving him a genuinely presidential-style headache, even without presidential-style power.

Elias Boudinot (1782–1783)

A New Jersey lawyer who was president when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, formally ending the Revolutionary War. Fittingly dramatic timing for his tenure.

Thomas Mifflin (1783–1784)

A Pennsylvania merchant and general who presided when Washington famously resigned his military commission to Congress in December 1783 — a stunning act of civilian-over-military restraint that impressed even King George III when he heard about it.

Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock (again), Nathaniel Gorham, Arthur St. Clair, Cyrus Griffin

These men filled out the role through 1788, right up until Washington's Constitutional inauguration in April 1789. Griffin was the last to hold the pre-Constitutional title.

The Verdict

So, is Washington the "first president"? Under the Constitution, absolutely, unambiguously yes. But if you're asking who first held a title called "president" while leading a national governing body of the United States — that honor arguably belongs to Peyton Randolph in 1774, or if you want the first one under a truly unified national framework, Samuel Huntington or John Hanson in 1781. It's less a hidden conspiracy and more a case of the word "president" evolving dramatically in meaning over fifteen turbulent years.