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United States: Presidents of Congress: 1774-1789

President of Congress [1]
5 Sep 1774 - 22 Oct 1774 Peyton Randolph
22 Oct 1774 - 26 Oct 1774 Henry Middleton
26 Oct 1774 - 10 May 1775 dissolution period [2]
10 May 1775 - 24 May 1775 Peyton Randolph 
24 May 1775 - 29 Oct 1777 John Hancock
29 Oct 1777 - 1 Nov 1777 office vacant [3]
1 Nov 1777 - 9 Dec 1778 Henry Laurens
10 Dec 1778 - 28 Sep 1779 John Jay
28 Sep 1779 - 10 Jul 1781 Samuel Huntington
10 Jul 1781 - 4 Nov 1781 Thomas McKean
5 Nov 1781 - 3 Nov 1782 John Hanson
4 Nov 1782 - 2 Nov 1783 Elias Boudinot
Chairman of Congress [4]
3 Nov 1783 - 12 Dec 1783 Daniel Carroll
President of Congress
13 Dec 1783 - 31 Oct 1784 Thomas Mifflin [5]
1 Nov 1784 - 30 Nov 1784 office vacant
30 Nov 1784 - 6 Nov 1785 Richard Henry Lee
7 Nov 1785 - 23 Nov 1785 office vacant
Chairman of Congress [6]
23 Nov 1785 - 12 May 1786 David Ramsay
13 May 1786 - 15 May 1786 office vacant
15 May 1786 - 5 Jun 1786 Nathaniel Gorham
President of Congress
6 Jun 1786 - 5 Nov 1786 Nathaniel Gorham 
6 Nov 1786 - 2 Feb 1787 office vacant
2 Feb 1787 - 4 Nov 1787 Arthur St. Clair
5 Nov 1787 - 22 Jan 1788 office vacant
22 Jan 1788 - 2 Nov 1788 Cyrus Griffin
3 Nov 1788 - 2 Mar 1789 office vacant
  1. Also in official use (after 1 Mar 1781): President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
  2. The office of President of Congress ceased to exist with the adjournment of the First Continental Congress on 26 Oct 1774 and was not reestablished until the convening of the Second Continental Congress on 10 May 1775.
  3. Designated substitute without formal appointment to the office: secretary of Congress Charles Thomson.
  4. Pending the taking office by Thomas Mifflin.
  5. Chairman of the Committee of the States
    4 Jun 1784 - 19 Aug 1784
    Samuel Hardy

    Thomas Mifflin ceased to exercise the duties of President on 3 Jul 1784, in accordance with a resolution of Congress dated 1 Jun 1784. Congress then adjourned, delegated its authority to the Committee of the States, and did not reconvene until a newly elected Congress assembled on 1 Nov 1784.

  6. Pending the taking office by John Hancock, who does not enter upon duties.