John Hanson

John Hanson (1715 - 1783) was a delegate from Maryland to the Continental Congress from 1780-1782 and a signer of the Articles of Confederation. A long-time politician in Maryland, he was a member of the State senate from 1757-1773, and a delegate to the General Congress at Annapolis in 1774. Hanson was elected President of the Continental Congress on November 5, 1781. He is sometimes incorrectly called the first president of the United States—he was merely the presiding officer of Congress.