Who chaired the First Continental Congress when it met in 1774?
Answer
Peyton Randolph
Peyton Randolph chaired the First Continental Congress when it met in 1774.
The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. Delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered to coordinate a response to the Coercive Acts, which Britain had imposed after the Boston Tea Party.
Randolph was a prominent Virginia politician and speaker of the House of Burgesses. His selection as president of the Congress reflected his seniority and standing among colonial leaders.
John Hancock later chaired the Second Continental Congress, while George Washington became its military commander. John Adams served as an important delegate but was not the First Continental Congress’s presiding officer.