You won’t find his name on the Declaration of Independence nor was he present when the Articles of Confederation were proposed and ratified. A well-respected Virginia attorney from a wealthy and influential family, he was the first man elected as President of the Continental Congress and was again elected President of the Second Continental Congress.
His was a moderate voice who helped bridge the gap between those who prioritized negotiating colonial grievances with England and the radical factions who favored independence. This little-known Founding Father played a significant role as a nationalist leader and helped lay the foundation for American independence.
