Peyton Randolph
| Peyton Randolph |
| Presided over the First Continental Congress and the |
| from 05 September 1774 (first term) 10 May 1775 (second term) |
| to 21 October 1774 (first term) 23 May 1775 (second term) |
| Vice President(s): N/A |
Peyton Randolph (1723-1775) was a pre-Constitution president presiding over the First and Second Continental Congresses.
History
He served several terms in the Virginia House of Burgesses, which often put him in situations contrary to his role as attorney general, such as with an imposition of land patent fees or the Stamp Act (his own position being less radical than Patrick Henry's resolutions). Randolph resigned as attorney general in 1766 when the burgesses elected him as speaker of the house.
In 1968 and 1774 Virginia governors dissolved the House of Burgesses over their actions regarding the Townshend Acts and the Boston Port Act, which resulted in Peyton Randolph chairing meetings of former house members in a tavern, much as he would soon be doing for the First and Second Continental Congresses.
During his first period as president of the First Continental Congress, the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress was adopted on 14 October 1774, as well as the Continental Association trade boycott.
Commentary
Despite his core role in the formation of what would become the US Government and being the first of a progression of those who would be heads of state, his health was in decline and he did not live to see the Declaration of Independence, dying within days of John Hancock being elected as his successor.
| Preceded by: None |
Pre-US President 1774 |
Succeeded by: Henry Middleton |
| Preceded by: Henry Middleton |
Pre-US President 1775 |
Succeeded by: John Hancock |