Who became the first president of the United States, a central figure in America's founding history?

George Washington became the first president of the United States, serving from April 30, 1789, to March 4, 1797.

The Electoral College unanimously elected Washington in both 1789 and 1792. He took the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City, then the national capital. John Adams served as his vice president during both terms.

Washington had commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later presided over the Constitutional Convention. His reputation for military leadership and his willingness to leave power helped establish expectations for the new presidency.

Washington declined to seek a third term and retired to Mount Vernon. The two-term tradition lasted until Franklin D. Roosevelt won a third election in 1940; the Twenty-Second Amendment later limited presidents to two elected terms. Washington is sometimes confused with John Adams, who was the first vice president and the second president.