George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief in Annapolis in 1783.
Washington appeared before the Continental Congress at the Maryland State House on December 23, 1783. There he formally returned his military authority after the American victory and the preliminary end of active fighting. His decision to surrender power was widely remembered as a striking example of republican self-government.
Washington had commanded the Continental Army since 1775. The act was especially significant because successful revolutionary commanders in other countries had sometimes used military prestige to seize political power. Instead, Washington placed civilian authority above personal ambition and returned to private life at Mount Vernon.
The Maryland State House in Annapolis is now a major historic site associated with the event. Washington later returned to public service as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and as the first president of the United States in 1789. His resignation should not be confused with his later resignation as president of the Society of the Cincinnati.