<P> Prior to ratification of the Articles , presidents of Congress served terms of no specific duration ; their tenure ended when they resigned , or , lacking an official resignation , when Congress selected a successor . When Peyton Randolph , who was elected in September 1774 to preside over the First Continental Congress , was unable to attend the last few days of the session due to poor health , Henry Middleton was elected to replace him . When the Second Continental Congress convened the following May , Randolph was again chosen as president , but he returned to Virginia two weeks later to preside over the House of Burgesses . John Hancock was elected to fill the vacancy , but his position was somewhat ambiguous , because it was not clear if Randolph had resigned or was on a leave of absence . The situation became uncomfortable when Randolph returned to Congress in September 1775 . Some delegates thought Hancock should have stepped down , but he did not ; the matter was resolved only by Randolph 's sudden death that October . </P>
<P> Prior to ratification of the Articles , presidents of Congress served terms of no specific duration ; their tenure ended when they resigned , or , lacking an official resignation , when Congress selected a successor . When Peyton Randolph , who was elected in September 1774 to preside over the First Continental Congress , was unable to attend the last few days of the session due to poor health , Henry Middleton was elected to replace him . When the Second Continental Congress convened the following May , Randolph was again chosen as president , but he returned to Virginia two weeks later to preside over the House of Burgesses . John Hancock was elected to fill the vacancy , but his position was somewhat ambiguous , because it was not clear if Randolph had resigned or was on a leave of absence . The situation became uncomfortable when Randolph returned to Congress in September 1775 . Some delegates thought Hancock should have stepped down , but he did not ; the matter was resolved only by Randolph 's sudden death that October . </P>
who was voted the leader of the second continental congress
who was voted the leader of the second continental congress
Peyton Randolph John Hancock
Peyton Randolph John Hancock