The President's House

The President's House. . , This site marks the home of colonial governors, a British general, traitors, and patriots alike, and it served as the executive mansion for the first two presidents of the United States., In 1767, Mary Lawrence Masters (the widow of William Masters, the former mayor of Philadelphia) constructed a new home for herself and her two daughters. The grand three-story red brick house was one of the larest in Philadelphia at the time., Lieutenant Governor's Mansion , In 1772, Mary gave the property as a wedding present to her eldest daughter, Mary ("Polly"), and her husband Richard Penn, the grandson of the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. They were married at Philadelphia's historic Christ Church., At the time, Richard was the Lieutenant Governor of the colony of Pennsylvania. The house's proximity to the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), Carpenters' Hall, and other colonial government buildings made it a prime location. While the Penns lived in the house, they hosted parties and entertained important guests., In May 1775, after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress met again in Philadelphia, this time at the Pennsylvania State House nearby. The Second Continental Congress quickly issued two different documents: "A Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms," which explained and defended Congress's decision to establish a colonial army and place the colonies in a state of defense, and the "Olive Branch Petition," a last attempt at reconciliation with Great Britain., Richard Penn was tasked with the responsibility of delivering the "Olive Branch Petition" to King George III. Penn left America for England with his family, leaving their house in the care of his agent. As the war progressed, the Penns made the decision to stay in England., Revolutionary War Philadelphia , British Occupation , The Continental Congress debated the question of independence from Great Britain in June and July of 1776, and on July 4, issued the Declaration of Independence. This seminal document marked an important change in Philadelphia: the city was no longer the seat of a colonial government but of a new nation. The signers of the Declaration held America "absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown" and asserted the country's independent nationhood., After winning the Battle of Long Island and chasing Washington's army out of New York and across New Jersey, the British made plans to take Philadelphia and capture the Continental Congress. When it became clear that the city could not be defended, Congress fled, and British forces under General Sir William Howe occupied Philadelphia in late 1777. General Howe made the house his headquarters while the Continental Army retreated to Valley forge for the winter., Financier's Residence , After the house sustained severe fire damage, Robert Morris purchased and rebuilt the property. Morris used the home as his city residence. Known as the "Financier of the Revolution," Morris contributed much of his wealth to the war effort. He later became Superintendent of Finance for the United States., George Washington was Morris' houseguest here from May to September 1787 during the Constitutional Convention, which met in the Pennsylvania State Hosue (Independence Hall)., Traitor's Post , After the British Army left Philadelphia in 1778 to regroup in New York City, George Washington appointed Major-General Benedict Arnold military governor of the city. Arnold chose to live in this house. His time here was marked by extravagance and corruption for which he was court-martialed., While living here, Arnold met his future wife, Loyalist Peggy Shippen. During this time, Arnold began his treasonous correspondence with British officer John André, starting down his path of becoming America's most notorious traitor., [Captions:] , Above: 1830 Lithograph of the Residence of Washington on High Street in Philadelphia., Above: George Washington was appointed Commander-in-Cheif of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress on June 15, 1775., Above: The U.S. Army retreated from New York after defeat in the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776.