On what date did George Washington take office as America’s first president?

George Washington took office as America’s first president on April 30, 1789.

The ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, then the national capital. Chancellor of New York Robert R. Livingston administered the presidential oath before a large crowd. Washington then delivered his first inaugural address inside the Senate chamber.

The federal government was scheduled to begin operating on March 4, 1789, but Congress could not immediately achieve a quorum. The Electoral College votes were not formally counted until April 6, and Washington received official notification afterward. He traveled from Mount Vernon to New York, receiving public welcomes along the route.

Washington’s inauguration is sometimes confused with the later tradition of holding ceremonies on March 4 and, since 1937, January 20. His ceremony was the first presidential inauguration and established several precedents for the office.