Before George

The Presidents of Congress

By: Lawrence Knorr, Joe Farrell, Joe Farley

Narrated by: David Cantor

Before the US Constitution defined the role of the President of the United States as the chief executive, fourteen men filled the role of President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Though initially an informal parliamentary role during the First Continental Congress, with the gravitas of war and then a Declaration of Independence, the role became more consequential with the Second Continental Congress. Then, the Articles of Confederation made it official, albeit still weak. However, the learnings from this role led to the Founders improving the position, preparing it for George Washington in the post-Constitution era. Authors Farrell, Farley, and Knorr have visited the graves of all of the Presidents of Congress and provided their biographies as well.

In this volume:

• Introduction: The Presidents of Congress
• Peyton Randolph
• Henry Middleton
• John Hancock
• Henry Laurens
• John Jay
• Samuel Huntington
• John Hanson
• Elias Boudinot
• Thomas McKean
• Thomas Mifflin
• Richard Henry Lee
• Nathanial Gorham
• Arthur St. Clair
• Cyrus Griffin
• Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson
• Appendices
• Index

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