Thomas Wharton, the first President of Pennsylvania, died in office on May 23, 1778 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (The State government had evacuated to Lancaster during the British occupation of Philadelphia.) According to the provisions of the 1776 State Constitution Bryan assumed the duties of the late President. Some sources consider Bryan to have been merely the "Acting" President during the seven months that followed. Others—including the records of the Council itself—deny him even that title and continue to address him as simply "Vice-President", as he was never elected or officially elevated to the Presidency. Nonetheless, perhaps due to the length of his service at the head of the Council, both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Governors Association today recognize George Bryan as a full-fledged Governor of Pennsylvania, serving from May 23, 1778 through December 1, 1778.