Revolutionary War-dated partly-printed vellum DS, one page, 11.75 x 7, September 16, 1782. As president of the Confederation Congress, Hanson appoints Jonathan Felt “to be a Captain in the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment in the Army of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by John Hanson and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as the first secretary of war. The seal to the left side is no longer present. Matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 26 x 15. The document, which appears to be mounted, is in very good to fine condition, with light scuffing and soiling.
John Hanson remains scarce across all signed formats, with this particular Continental commission all the more impressive given that it was signed during his brief tenure as president of the Confederation Congress, a post he held for just one year, from 1781 to 1782; he died the following year in 1783. Because of this short time span, it’s believed that no more than 10 examples have been accounted for.
On November 5, 1781, John Hanson became the first president of the Confederation Congress, the new name of the Continental Congress under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation—and he would go on to become the first congressional president to serve a full one-year term. Hanson did not initially enjoy the largely ceremonial role, which consisted of much correspondence and document signing, and purportedly considered resigning after a single week in office. Out of a sense of duty, Hanson remained as president until November 3, 1782, and proceeded to fill his one-year tenure with a wealth of achievements that would set a precedent for all future incumbents.
Among his accomplishments: ordering all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags; establishing the Great Seal of the United States, the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department; and declaring that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day. Some consider Hanson to have been the first true president of the United States. A remarkable document signed by a figure of unique historical importance.
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