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John Hanson: The First U.S. President?

Posted on November 30, 2020December 9, 2020 by Destiny

Who is Usually Acknowledged As the First U.S. President?

The fact that George Washington is the first US President is usually told in schools and history museums and considered well-known.

What if you were told that some people don’t believe that’s entirely true, that some people think that a man named John Hanson, who was the former President of the United States Congress/Continental Congress, was the first U.S. President?


Short Bio of John Hanson

John Hanson was born April 3, 1715, in Charles County, Maryland. He died on the date of Nov. 15, 1783, at the age of 68 in Oxon Hill Maryland, and during his life, he was married to Jane Contee. Hanson represented Maryland in the Continental Congress through the years of 1780-1782.

Hanson was responsible for initiating programs that aided America in getting a world position as the presiding officer for Congress, and while he was in office, a post office department service was initiated, as well as a national bank being charted, the first consular service being established, a system of coinage was developed and adopted, and progress was made towards the taking of the first census.

He also signed a treaty with the country of Holland, confirming the indebtedness of the U.S. for the loan from Holland, and  laws, regulations, and official papers and letters were signed by Hanson.

After his death, the contributions he made to the government under the Articles of Confederation were taken in by the new federal government.


What is One of the Main Reasons Hanson Isn’t Considered the First U.S. President?

Hanson isn’t considered the first U.S. President because he was the President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation and he had only a few of the powers that the U.S. President would have under the laws of the U.S. Constitution. 

He did give some orders that could be considered presidential, but that was before Washington came into the U.S. Presidential office.

Even though they may not be considered to have the same powers, Washington and Hanson were both important to U.S. History.

Sources:

  • Snopes Fact Check: Was John Hanson the first U.S. President?
  • John Hanson Biography
  • Presidential Powers

1 thought on “John Hanson: The First U.S. President?”

  1. Avatar Abigail says:
    May 28, 2021 at 8:58 am

    wHO KNEW WOW!!

Comments are closed.

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