Was John Hanson the first President of the United States of America?

I just read up on him using the link Brad G posted, it seems to make a pretty good case that he was, in fact, President of America.

It mentions and sites two biographies that seem to make this same argument, but there isn't any solid "right or wrong." He was definitely leading the politics during the revolutionary war, so even then, it technically would put him in a strong leadership position.

I haven't read the various biographies that seem to put this idea forward, but it does seem to me, that from a strictly technical perspective, Hanson was the President. Of course, when the Articles were thrown out, somebody could likely argue that only then did the "true" or "modern" America begin, in which case he technically wasn't the first President... As the answer by "Ocularnervosa" seems to argue.

Good question!

Daniel

@Wow, a lot of "thumb down" trolls swept through the area. Everybody stay armed...

Not sure how somebody can thumb down something that is still in a debate. Books have been written on the topic, so how can anybody be so certain... An argument can be made either way I suppose...

No, and he wasn't the first "President of Congress" under the Articles of Confederation, he was third. The Articles of Confederation were adopted on March 1, 1781. John Hanson didn't become President of Congress until November 5, 1781. Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean served as Presidents before Hanson, but Hanson was the first to serve a full one year term.

Well, the United States Of America wasn't formed until the Constitution was ratified. So Hanson was the President of the Continental Congress but not the actual United States.

I'd try to explain it but the Wikipedia does a pretty good job.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hanson

Read the "Death and Legacy" part, it has a little bit on whether he is or not.

no that was george washington

Yes 1781 - 1782. He was he was also 100% black unlike Obama. See link.

http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&sour...

No.