Internet folklore often scrambles historical facts, creating bizarre rumors that travel faster than corrections. One persistent online myth claims that the first president of the United States was a Black man named John Hanson. This viral narrative conflates two completely different historical figures, twisting 18th-century American politics and 19th-century Liberian history into a single fabricated tale. Unpacking this myth reveals how archival confusion occurs and clarifies who these men actually were.
The Core Confusion: Two Different Men
The myth relies on a classic case of mistaken identity involving two historical figures who shared a name. Because their records crossed paths in pop culture and genealogy forums, internet sleuths accidentally merged them into one person.
The first John Hanson was a white merchant and politician from Maryland who lived from 1721 to 1783. He served as the president of the Continental Congress (specifically the Confederation Congress) for a single year starting in November 1781.
The second John Hanson was an African American man born into slavery in Maryland around 1791. After buying his freedom, he emigrated to Liberia in 1827, where he became a prominent merchant and later served as a senator in the Liberian government until his death around 1860. Further insights regarding the matter are covered by Associated Press.
The viral rumor claims that the white politician's official portrait actually depicts the Black Liberian senator, or that the senator was somehow the true executive of the early United States. Neither claim holds up to basic scrutiny. The 18th-century politician died long before photography existed, while the 19th-century Liberian senator was captured in mid-19th-century daguerreotypes—such as a famous photograph attributed to Augustus Washington. Viral posts frequently attach the senator's photograph to the white politician's biography, sparking widespread confusion.
Who Was the White John Hanson of Maryland?
To understand why people talk about John Hanson in connection to the presidency, you have to look at the Articles of Confederation. Before the U.S. Constitution established the modern executive branch in 1789, the United States operated under the Articles of Confederation.
The presiding officer of the Confederation Congress held the title "President of the United States in Congress Assembled". John Hanson of Maryland won election to this post in November 1781.
- The Role: The position was largely administrative and ceremonial. Hanson managed congressional sessions, signed official documents, and handled diplomatic correspondence. He held no veto power, commanded no military forces, and lacked any independent executive authority.
- The Term: He served a single one-year term and grew frustrated with the weakness of the central government under the Articles.
- The Myth Origin: Over a century later, descendants of this John Hanson, such as Douglas H. Thomas in an 1898 biography, pushed the idea that Hanson was the true "first president" because his title included "President of the United States". Historians widely reject this claim, noting that the Continental Congress president was closer to a modern Speaker of the House than a head of state. George Washington remains the first president under the modern Constitution.
Who Was the Black John Hanson of Liberia?
The other half of the equation involves a remarkable figure whose actual life story deserves recognition without needing fabricated presidential titles. Born into slavery in Maryland, the Black John Hanson secured his freedom and made the difficult decision to emigrate to West Africa.
Arriving in Liberia in 1827, he entered the growing mercantile class and built a successful trading career. Liberia had been established by the American Colonization Society as a settlement for free African Americans. Hanson integrated into the political fabric of the developing nation, serving in the Colonial Council and later as a senator representing Grand Bassa County following Liberia's declaration of independence in 1847.
When he died in 1860, Liberian President Stephen Allen Benson publicly mourned him as a faithful and patriotic servant. His life reflects the complex history of the African diaspora, the back-to-Africa movement, and the foundational politics of early Liberia. Yet, he never held office in the United States, let alone the U.S. presidency.
Why the Internet Amplified the Myth
Misinformation thrives on social media because sensational headlines outpace dry historical context. Several factors fueled the spread of the John Hanson myth:
- Visual Confusion: The survival of a mid-19th-century daguerreotype of the Liberian senator created an easy vector for misinformation. Bloggers and meme creators paired his image with trivia about the 1781 Continental Congress, falsely claiming the photograph proved a hidden history.
- Desire for Representation: People love underdog stories and hidden historical breakthroughs. When users encounter a narrative about a marginalized figure supposedly erased from the history books, they often share it rapidly without fact-checking.
- Semantic Trickery: The title "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" sounds impressive to modern ears. Conflating that congressional moderator role with the modern executive branch allows mythmakers to stretch definitions until truth snaps.
For a deeper look into how online hoaxes manipulate historical documents, you can review analyses by fact-checking organizations like Snopes. To explore the documented archives of early American leadership, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center provides verified institutional histories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any Black person hold high political office in early America?
While Black individuals did not hold executive office in the early federal government under the restrictive laws and slavery systems of the 18th and early 19th centuries, numerous Black politicians gained prominence during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War, including U.S. Senators and Representatives elected in the 1870s.
Why is John Hanson of Maryland sometimes called the first president?
Descendants and regional boosters promoted this idea because he presided over the Confederation Congress. However, historians point out that the office predated the U.S. Constitution and carried none of the executive powers held by George Washington.
How did the photographs of the Liberian John Hanson get mixed up?
A daguerreotype of the 19th-century Liberian senator was misidentified or intentionally cross-referenced with articles about the 18th-century Continental Congress president on early internet message boards, leading to a permanent digital mix-up that persists on social media.
Who was actually the first African American U.S. president?
Barack Obama, who took office in January 2009, was the first African American president of the United States.
