George Washington was elected commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution commemorated by America250.
The Second Continental Congress unanimously selected Washington on June 15, 1775, one day after creating the Continental Army. His military experience, leadership reputation, and Virginia background made him a compromise choice who could help unite the colonies.
Washington accepted the appointment without requesting a salary, although Congress agreed to reimburse his expenses. He commanded the Continental Army throughout the Revolutionary War, from its early campaigns through the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781 and the war’s conclusion.
A common mix-up is confusing Washington’s army command with his later presidency. He became the first president of the United States in 1789, after the Constitution created the federal office. The Continental Army was a revolutionary force organized by Congress, not the modern United States Army in its present form.