Peyton Randolph

Peyton Randolph
1st and 3rd President of the Continental Congress
In office May 10, 1775 – May 24, 1775
Preceded by	Henry Middleton
Succeeded by	John Hancock
In office September 5, 1774 – October 22, 1774
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Henry Middleton
33rd Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses
In office 1766–1775
Preceded by	John Robinson
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	(1721-09-10)September 10, 1721 Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died	October 22, 1775(1775-10-22) (aged 54) Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
Resting place	Wren Chapel, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
Spouse	Elizabeth Harrison
Relations	Thomas Jefferson (cousin)
Parent(s)	Sir John Randolph Susanna Beverley
Education	College of William & Mary Middle Temple
Signature

Peyton Randolph (September 10, 1721 – October 22, 1775) was an American politician and planter who was a Founding Father of the United States. Born into Virginia's wealthiest and most powerful family, Randolph served as speaker of Virginia's House of Burgesses, president of the first two Virginia Conventions, and president of the First Continental Congress.^[1][2] He also served briefly as president of the Second Continental Congress.

In 1774, Randolph signed the Continental Association, a trade boycott adopted by the First Continental Congress in response to the British Parliament's Intolerable Acts. Randolph was a first cousin once removed of Thomas Jefferson and was also related to John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, and Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War.