<P> The three - and - a-half - story brick mansion on the south side of Market Street was built in 1767 by widow Mary Lawrence Masters . In 1772, she gave it as a wedding gift to her elder daughter, who married Richard Penn, the lieutenant - governor of the Colony and a grandson of William Penn . The Penns and the Masterses moved to England during the early days of the American Revolutionary War . </P> <P> During the British occupation of Philadelphia, September 1777 to June 1778, the house was headquarters for General Sir William Howe . Following the British evacuation, it housed the American military governor, Benedict Arnold, and it was here that he began his treason . After Arnold left Philadelphia, the next resident was John Holker . Holker was a purchasing agent for the French, who were American allies at the time . Under his care the house suffered a fire, and was sold to a man whom Holker knew well, Robert Morris . </P> <P> In 1781, it was purchased, refurbished, and expanded by Robert Morris, who lived here while Superintendent of Finance . Washington lodged here with Morris during the 1787 Constitutional Convention . In 1790, Morris gave up the house for his friend to use as the Executive Mansion, moving to the house next door . President Washington occupied it from November 1790 to March 1797, and President Adams from March 1797 to May 1800 . Adams oversaw the transfer of the federal government to the District of Columbia, and first occupied the White House on November 1, 1800 . </P> <P> The main house was demolished in 1832, although the four - story east and west walls survived as party walls shared with the adjoining buildings . These, along with surviving sections of the backbuildings, were demolished in the 1950s during the creation of Independence Mall . A public toilet was built on the site . </P>

Where did the president stay before the white house
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