George Washington received the posthumous rank of General of the Armies during the 1976 Bicentennial.
Congress passed Public Law 94-479 on January 19, 1976, granting Washington the rank of General of the Armies of the United States. The appointment took effect on July 4, 1976, the Bicentennial anniversary date.
The honor recognized Washington’s central role as commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and as the nation’s first president. It also restored his position as the highest-ranking military officer in United States history.
The honor was posthumous: Washington had died in 1799. He had previously held the rank of lieutenant general, and the 1976 action created a special commemorative distinction rather than reflecting a new period of active military service.