Description
Henry Laurens was a rice planter, merchant, and slave trader from South Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he emerged as a political leader. Laurens succeeded John Hancock as the 5th president of the Second Continental Congress. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and supervised its passage. The British charged him with treason and he was transported to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Henry Laurens is the only American to have been held in the tower. In 1781, he was released in exchange for General Lord Cornwallis and completed his voyage to Amsterdam where he helped raise funds for the American effort. In 1783, he was sent to Paris as one of the peace commissioners for negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris.
The Second Continental Congress, May 10, 1775 – March 1781
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress professed loyalty to the Crown but took steps to preserve its rights. On June 14, 1775, it created the Continental Army and named George Washington as its commander. In July of 1775, it issued the Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. This was coupled with the Olive Branch Petition, which the king dismissed. In July of 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution asserting independence. In 1777, it drafted the Articles of Confederation, but these were not ratified until 1781. The Articles established the United States as a collection of 13 sovereign states.
The biographical History Mugs were created to teach and inspire individuals to learn about our diverse and interesting history. The biographies were researched and written by history enthusiast, Robert Compton. He colorized most of the historic photos and images used on the mugs, which were originally black and white or sepia-tone. The images and biographies are imprinted on mugs at his studio in rural Vermont.
- Mugs are food and microwave-safe.
- To preserve photographic quality we recommend hand washing.
- Mugs are usually shipped within 3-5 days.
