Elias Boudinot was a lawyer and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey who was a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was elected as a U.S. Congressman for New Jersey following the American Revolutionary War, and was appointed by President George Washington as Director of the United States Mint.
After studying law, Elias Boudinot was admitted to the bar, and began his practice in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In the early stages of the Revolutionary War, he was active in promoting enlistment; several times he loaned money to field commanders to purchase supplies. He also helped support the activities of rebel spies.
During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington appointed Boudinot as commissary general for prisoners. The commissary managed enemy prisoners, and also was responsible for supplying American prisoners who were held by the British. In November 1777, the New Jersey legislature named Boudinot as one of their delegates to the Second Continental Congress. His duties as commissary prevented his initial attendance, but by early July 1778 he had been replaced as commissary and attended his first meeting of the Congress. As a delegate, he still continued his concerns for the welfare of prisoners of war. In 1781, Boudinot returned to the Congress, for a term lasting through 1783. In November 1782, he was elected as President of the Continental Congress.
When the United States government was formed in 1789, Boudinot was elected from New Jersey to the US House of Representatives. He was elected to the second and third congresses as well. In 1794, he declined to serve another term, and left Congress. In October 1795, President George Washington appointed him as Director of the United States Mint, a position he held through succeeding administrations until he retired in 1805.