You've probably seen it. A grainy, black-and-white daguerreotype of a dignified man with glasses, seated at a desk. The caption usually claims this is the "real" first President of the United States. It's a compelling story. It hits all the right notes for a viral history post: a forgotten hero, a secret identity, and a total rewriting of what we learned in fifth grade.
But there is a massive problem.
Photography didn't exist when the John Hanson from the American Revolution was alive. Not even close.
The Impossible Camera
The John Hanson who served as President of the Continental Congress died in 1783. If you're a fan of tech history, you'll know that Louis Daguerre didn't even reveal his "daguerreotype" process to the world until 1839. That is a fifty-six-year gap. Basically, expecting a photo of the Revolutionary War Hanson is like expecting a video of George Washington doing the moonwalk.
It just couldn't happen.
So, who is the guy in the glasses?
The man in those photos of John Hanson is actually a Liberian senator. He lived in the mid-19th century. His name really was John Hanson, which is where the confusion starts, but he was a completely different person. This Hanson was an African American who emigrated to Liberia via the American Colonization Society. He was a merchant and a politician in the young West African nation.
His portrait was captured by Augustus Washington, a famous Black photographer who also moved to Liberia. The Library of Congress actually has the original plate. It was taken between 1856 and 1858.
Why the mix-up keeps happening
People love a good conspiracy. Honestly, the idea that the "first" president was a Black man whose legacy was erased by historians is a powerful narrative. It’s been pushed by various figures over the years, including the late comedian Dick Gregory.
It's also fueled by the technicality of the title.
The Revolutionary-era John Hanson was technically the "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the Articles of Confederation. This was before the U.S. Constitution existed. Because he held that title for a year (1781–1782), some people argue he was the real first president, not George Washington.
When you combine that "forgotten president" debate with a real, high-quality photograph of a man with the same name, the internet does what the internet does. It mashes them together.
What the "Real" John Hanson Actually Looked Like
If you want to see the John Hanson who knew George Washington, you have to look at oil paintings and etchings. There are no two ways about it.
- The Hesselius Portrait: This is the most famous one. Painted by John Hesselius around 1770, it shows Hanson as a typical 18th-century gentleman. No glasses. No camera lens. Just a guy in a powdered wig and a waistcoat.
- The Peale Etching: Charles Willson Peale, the guy who painted everyone from Jefferson to Hamilton, did a portrait of Hanson while he was in office.
- The Statue: If you visit the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall, Maryland has a bronze statue of him. It’s based on these 18th-century likenesses.
History is kinda messy. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of digitized archives, especially when names overlap. But the timeline of technology is the ultimate fact-checker here.
Key differences between the two Hansons
| Feature | The Revolutionary Hanson | The Liberian Senator |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1721–1783 | Died circa 1860 |
| Race | White (Maryland-born) | Black (Emigrated to Liberia) |
| Office | President of Continental Congress | Senator in Liberia |
| Visual Media | Oil paintings / Engravings | Daguerreotype photographs |
How to spot a fake historical "fact"
When you see photos of John Hanson or any other historical figure from the 1700s, ask one question: Does this look like a photo? If the answer is yes, it's either a photo of a statue, a photo of a re-enactor, or a case of mistaken identity.
Sometimes these myths are harmless, but they sort of rob both men of their actual history. The Liberian John Hanson was an important figure in his own right, helping to build a new country. By turning him into a "secret" U.S. President, his actual achievements in Africa get ignored.
And the Revolutionary John Hanson? He was a guy who did a lot of the boring, heavy lifting of bureaucracy that kept the colonies from falling apart before the Constitution was even a thing. He wasn't a secret; he was just a politician working under a very weak, very early version of the American government.
Next Steps for History Buffs:
Check out the Library of Congress digital archives and search for "Augustus Washington." You'll see the original John Hanson daguerreotype in its proper context alongside other 1850s pioneers. To see the Revolutionary version, look up the Maryland State Archives' collection on the Continental Congress delegates.