Who became commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War?

George Washington became commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War.

The Second Continental Congress unanimously elected Washington to the position on June 15, 1775. He had military experience from the French and Indian War and was a prominent Virginian, making his appointment politically useful as well as militarily credible.

Washington took command while the Siege of Boston was underway. He served throughout the war, receiving no salary beyond reimbursement for expenses. His leadership helped hold together troops raised by different colonies and later by the United States.

Washington is sometimes confused with other important Continental officers, including Horatio Gates, Nathanael Greene, and Henry Knox. They held major commands, but none replaced Washington as commander-in-chief during the Revolutionary War.