For America's 250th anniversary, who presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Delegates elected Washington of Virginia as president of the convention when it began in Philadelphia. His reputation as the former commander of the Continental Army gave the proceedings authority, even though he generally took a restrained role in debate. The convention met from May 25 through September 17, 1787.

The meeting was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but delegates ultimately drafted an entirely new governing document. James Madison played a major role in preparing the Virginia Plan and recording debates, while Alexander Hamilton advocated a strong national government. Benjamin Franklin was another prominent delegate and helped encourage compromise, but he did not preside. Washington later became the first president under the Constitution, serving from 1789 to 1797.