Cyrus Griffin
Cyrus Griffin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 10th President of the United States in Congress Assembled | |
| In office January 22, 1788 – November 2, 1788 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur St. Clair |
| Succeeded by | none |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1749 Farnham, Virginia |
| Died | December 14, 1810 (aged 61) |
Cyrus Griffin (July 16, 1749– December 14, 1810) was the tenth and last President of the United States in Congress assembled under the Articles of Confederation, holding office from January 22, 1788 to November 2, 1788. He was preceded in office by Arthur St. Clair. Upon the approval of the United States Constitution, his position was eliminated.
Griffin was born in Farnham, Virginia in 1749. He was educated in England and in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh. While there married Christina Stewart, daughter of the sixth Earl of Traquair. He was a member of the Virginia legislature and a delegate to the Continental Congress 1778–1781 and 1787–1788. He was president of the Supreme Court of the Admiralty from its creation until its abolition, was commissioner to the Creek nation in 1789, and was judge of the United States court for the district of Virginia from December 1789, until his death (in Yorktown, Virginia) on December 14, 1810. He is buried next to his wife in the churchyard at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia.
While numerous trivia buffs and inaccurate websites insist that Griffin was (the seventh or tenth) President of the United States, he was in fact the last President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Historians note that his title and responsibilities were different from the office of President that was created by the United States Constitution.
References
- United States Congress. "Cyrus Griffin (id: G000459)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.