The first president of the Continental Congress was Peyton Randolph. He presided over the First Continental Congress, which convened in September 1774 in Philadelphia to address colonial grievances against British rule. Randolph was a prominent Virginia politician and had significant influence in the early stages of the American Revolution. Although he served a brief time and was unable to attend subsequent sessions due to ill health, his leadership helped set a precedent for democratic governance and collective action among the colonies. This assembly eventually took on greater significance in coordinating efforts for independence from Britain.