Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Some historians also consider him the first President of the United States. Born in Windham, Connecticut, he was apprenticed to a cooper (a barrel maker – a valuable colonial trade). Samuel studied law books in his spare time, and at age 22, he passed the test to practice law in Connecticut. A few years later, he moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he set up a law practice, and married Martha Devotion, a minister’s daughter. Shy and quiet, and not much of a speaker or writer, Huntington won the respect of his neighbors for his fairness and hard work. He was elected to the Connecticut Legislature in 1764, and eight years later, was made a judge. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress in late 1775, and took his seat early the next year. He represented Connecticut in the Second Continental Congress from 1776 to 1781, serving as President of the Congress from September 1779 to July 1781. Because he was President of Congress when the nation’s first framework of government, the Articles of Confederation, took effect on March 1, 1781, Huntington has been called the first real President of the United States. In 1784, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut. Between 1786 and 1796, he served as Governor of Connecticut. He was still Governor when he died at the age of 64. Although he and his wife had no children of their own, he raised their nephew and niece, Samuel and Frances Huntington. Samuel Huntington would later become the Governor of Ohio, from 1808 to 1810.

Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Some historians also consider him the first President of the United States. Born in Windham, Connecticut, he was apprenticed to a cooper (a barrel maker – a valuable colonial trade). Samuel studied law books in his spare time, and at age 22, he passed the test to practice law in Connecticut. A few years later, he moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he set up a law practice, and married Martha Devotion, a minister’s daughter. Shy and quiet, and not much of a speaker or writer, Huntington won the respect of his neighbors for his fairness and hard work. He was elected to the Connecticut Legislature in 1764, and eight years later, was made a judge. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress in late 1775, and took his seat early the next year. He represented Connecticut in the Second Continental Congress from 1776 to 1781, serving as President of the Congress from September 1779 to July 1781. Because he was President of Congress when the nation’s first framework of government, the Articles of Confederation, took effect on March 1, 1781, Huntington has been called the first real President of the United States. In 1784, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut. Between 1786 and 1796, he served as Governor of Connecticut. He was still Governor when he died at the age of 64. Although he and his wife had no children of their own, he raised their nephew and niece, Samuel and Frances Huntington. Samuel Huntington would later become the Governor of Ohio, from 1808 to 1810.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson