George Washington was the first president of the United States and the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War generation honored by America250.
Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775. He led American forces through the war, including the difficult winter at Valley Forge and the decisive Yorktown campaign. British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending major combat.
After the war, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention and later became the first president under the U.S. Constitution. He served two terms from 1789 to 1797, establishing precedents that influenced the office for generations.
Washington was not the author of the Declaration of Independence; Thomas Jefferson wrote its principal draft. He also was not president when the Declaration was adopted. His connection to America250 comes through his leadership of the Revolution and the early republic.