The Second Continental Congress unanimously elected George Washington commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775.
Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, shortly after fighting began around Boston. On June 15, delegates selected Washington, a Virginia planter and veteran of the French and Indian War, to lead the new force. His military experience and political standing made him a choice many delegates believed could unite the colonies.
Washington accepted the appointment without requesting a salary, though Congress later reimbursed his expenses. He traveled north to take command during the Siege of Boston and remained commander-in-chief throughout the Revolutionary War.
Washington's role differed from that of a modern independently empowered military leader: the Continental Congress supervised the army and controlled major policy. His wartime leadership helped establish the reputation that later supported his election as the United States' first president.