George Washington was unanimously elected by the Electoral College as the first United States president.
The Electoral College unanimously selected Washington in both the 1789 and 1792 presidential elections. He was the only U.S. president to receive every electoral vote in an election, making his first victory unique in American political history.
Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. John Adams, who had received the second-highest electoral vote total, became vice president. The first inauguration established ceremonial practices that later presidents adapted.
Washington’s election reflected his military reputation, leadership during the Revolutionary War, and role as presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention. He initially resisted political factions and served two terms before voluntarily retiring. His retirement helped establish the tradition of a two-term presidency, later formalized by the Twenty-Second Amendment.