John Hanson

Hanson, John, delegate to congress, b. in Charles county, Md., in 1715; d. in Oxen. Hills, Prince George co., Md., 22 Nov., 1783. He received an English education, and was a member of the Maryland house of delegates nearly every year from 1757 till 1781. He removed to Frederick county in 1778, was an active patriot, and in 1775 was treasurer of the county. About that time he was commissioned by the Maryland convention to establish a gun-lock factory at Frederick. On 9 Oct., 1776, he was one of a committee to go to the camp of the Maryland troops in New Jersey, “with power to appoint officers and to encourage the re-enlistment of the Maryland militia.” He was a delegate to the Continental congress from 1781 till his death, served one year as its president, from 5 Nov. of that year, and in that capacity gave Washington the thanks of congress for the victory at Yorktown. After 1782 feeble health compelled him to retire from public life.—