Frederick Muhlenberg: The First Speaker

Today, the role of Speaker of the House is often met with criticism. As the leader of the House of Representatives, the Speaker bears responsibility for all actions taken by the House, both positive and negative. However, this was not always the case. Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, the first and third Speaker of the House, was not as controversial as his modern-day counterparts. He was a member of the now-defunct Pro-Administration Party, and later the Anti-Administration Party and its successor, the Democratic-Republican Party. Muhlenberg established many of the traditions still followed by the Speaker today and was highly respected by both allies and rivals. His early life, time as Speaker of the Continental Congress, and later years until his death are all noteworthy aspects of his legacy.