Gorham was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and was the son
of Captain Nathaniel Gorham and his father's wife Mary Soley. He
was a descendant of John Howland, (c. 1599 – 1673) who was
one of the Pilgrims who traveled from England to North America on
the Mayflower, signed the Mayflower Compact, and helped found the
Plymouth Colony.
He took part in public affairs at the beginning of the American
Revolution, he was a member of the Massachusetts General Court
(Legislature) from 1771 until 1775, a delegate to the Provincial
congress from 1774 until 1775, and a member of the Board of War
from 1778 until its dissolution in 1781. In 1779 he served in the
State constitutional convention. He was a delegate to the
Continental Congress from 1782 until 1783, and also from 1785 until
1787, serving as its president for five months from June 6 to
November 5, 1786 after the resignation of John Hancock. Gorham also
served a term as judge of the Middlesex County, Massachusetts Court
of Common Pleas.