Who was the first secretary of the Continental Congress?

The first secretary of the Continental Congress was Charles Thomson. He was appointed when the First Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774, and remained secretary throughout the Congress’s existence until 1789.

Thomson’s role went far beyond routine clerical work. He recorded congressional proceedings, prepared the official Journals of the Continental Congress, managed correspondence, and helped preserve continuity as delegates and congressional presidents changed. John Adams reportedly called him the “Samuel Adams of Philadelphia” because of his political influence and revolutionary commitment.

Thomson’s name has a special connection to the Declaration of Independence. Along with John Hancock, president of Congress, he appeared on the first printed version issued in July 1776. Hancock signed as president, while Thomson signed as secretary. He also helped design the Great Seal of the United States with William Barton. When the new constitutional government began operating in 1789, Thomson handed over Congress’s official papers and the seal before retiring from public service.