<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Merchant, politician </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Signature </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> John Hanson (April 14 (O.S. April 3) 1721--November 15, 1783) was a merchant and public official from Maryland during the era of the American Revolution . In 1779, Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress after serving in a variety of roles for the Patriot cause in Maryland . He signed the Articles of Confederation in 1781 after Maryland finally joined the other states in ratifying them . In November 1781, he was elected as first President of the Continental Congress (sometimes styled President of the United States in Congress assembled), following ratification of the articles . For this reason, some of Hanson's biographers have argued that he was actually the first holder of the office of president . </P> <P> John Hanson was born in Port Tobacco Parish in Charles County in the Province of Maryland on April 14, 1721 . Sources published prior to a 1940 genealogical study sometimes listed his birth date as April 13 or his year of birth as 1715 . </P>

Who was the original first president of the united states
find me the text answering this question