He did not serve in the Continental Army with distinction, he did not sign the Declaration of Independence or the Articles ot the Constitution. After being elected to the Congress from his home state of New Jersey, he served as the new nation's Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Then in 1783 he was elected to be President. He served from November 4, 1782 until November 2, 1782. Elias was a classically trained scholar of the Reformed faith, and an anti-federalist in political matters an had a grandchild that became a leader of the Cherokee nation..