The 2 John Hansons

There were two John Hanson’s who were influential politicians, one, a Caucasian who served in the development of the United States, and the other an African-American, who left the United States in 1830, and returned to Africa. He settled in Monrovia, and became Senator from Bassa County.

The name “John Hanson” is often found on Internet sites that list U.S. Presidents Who Were Black, and the African-American Hanson is also touted as the first President of the U.S. but the facts do not support these assertions. 
 

John Hanson, of Swedish descent, was born in Charles Co., Maryland in 1715. He was a Planter, and owned a farm called Mulberry Grove. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates 1757 – 1777.

On March 2, 1781, (after the Articles of Confederation was unanimously ratified by the 13 states on March 1, 1781) Samuel Huntington was sworn in as the first president to serve under the Articles of Confederation. (George Washington was the first president to serve under the Constitution of the United States). Huntington only served until July when he resigned due to ill health. Thomas McKean was then elected and served until November 1781. John Hanson was elected on November 5, 1781; and served for one year. He was third, in the succession of presidents under the Articles of Confederation. Six successive presidents followed him. The nation under the Articles of Confederation was unicameral. The governing body was called United States in Congress Assembled.

In 1789 the unicameral government was replaced with the bi-cameral House and Senate. After that occurred, Hanson served as a delegate to the United States Congress, until he died. He was the grandson of the founder of New Sweden, in Delaware; the uncle of the Governor of Province of Maryland (who governed during the Revolution); and the grandfather of the Governor of the State of Maryland (who took office after the Revolution). This John Hanson died in Prince Georges Co., Maryland, on 22 Nov 1783.

John Hanson, the African American, was born in 1791. He had been enslaved in Maryland, and at 36 years of age, he purchased his freedom and opted for the American Colonization Society’s  “Back to Africa Movement”. Hanson arrived in Liberia on the “Brig Doris”, on 11 Aug 1827. He became an activist for the “Back to Africa Movement “ and was active in Liberian politics. He was elected to serve as Senator from the Grand Bassa County, and had a distinguished career as an influential politician.