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I found this tidbit about “historical myths”.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress (or the 'United States in Congress Assembled') chose Peyton Randolph as the first President. Under Randolph, one of their first moves was to create the Continental Army (in defence against Britain), appointing General Washington as its commander.
http://humanitiestalks.blogspot.com/2007/03/20-greatest-historical-myths.htmlSo from that it says that GW wasn't technically the "first" American president. While this fact might not do very much for you, it might be a good way to stump your friends at your next cocktail party.
I'm not too sure, but I think John Hancock was offered the Presidency first during the Articles of Confederation and he scoffed at the prospect citing the weaknesses of the office would make him useless.
Under the Articles of Association (1774-1777) and the Articles of Confederation (1777-1788), the United States had no Chief Executive. Peyton Randolph was president of the First Continental Congress (1774), not president of the nation — just as John Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress (1776).Be wary of historical iconoclasts who get carried away with themselves. They sometimes create more myths than they expose.
