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'''Henry Laurens''' (March 6, 1724-December 8, 1792) was a delegate to the [[Continental Congress]] from the state of [[Georgia]] and a signer of the [[Articles of Confederation]].  A soldier and successful merchant, Laurens was also highly politically active, serving in the commons house of assembly from 1757 until the beginning of the [[Revolutionary War]].  Laurens served as president of the [[First Provincial Congress]], and also of the first council of safety, in 1775.  He also served in the [[Second Provincial Congress]], and as president of the second council of safety, in 1775 and 1776.  Laurens was elected president of the [[Continental Congress]] on November 1, 1777, and served in that position until December 9, 1778.  While sailing to Holland to serve as Minister, Laurens was captured by the British and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]]--the only American ever to be held there.  He was released in December of 1781, in exchange for [[Lord Cornwallis]].  Following the war, Laurens returned home; although elected to the [[Continental Congress]], the state legislature, and the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]], he declined all three, preferring to live quietly as a planter until his death in 1792. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000121</ref>   

'''Henry Laurens''' (March 6, 1724 – December 8, 1792) was a delegate to the [[Continental Congress]] from the state of [[Georgia]] and a signer of the [[Articles of Confederation]].  A soldier and successful merchant, Laurens was also highly politically active, serving in the commons house of assembly from 1757 until the beginning of the [[Revolutionary War]].  Laurens served as president of the [[First Provincial Congress]], and also of the first council of safety, in 1775.  He also served in the [[Second Provincial Congress]], and as president of the second council of safety, in 1775 and 1776.  Laurens was elected president of the [[Continental Congress]] on November 1, 1777, and served in that position until December 9, 1778.  While sailing to Holland to serve as Minister, Laurens was captured by the British and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]]—the only American ever to be held there.  He was released in December of 1781, in exchange for [[Lord Cornwallis]].  Following the war, Laurens returned home; although elected to the [[Continental Congress]], the state legislature, and the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]], he declined all three, preferring to live quietly as a planter until his death in 1792.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000121</ref>