George Washington became the first president of the United States, a leader whose legacy is included in America250 history.
The Electoral College unanimously elected Washington in the first presidential election under the Constitution. He took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, then the temporary national capital.
Washington had already served as commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His military reputation and public standing helped him become a unifying choice for the new republic, even though he had not sought a hereditary-style position.
He served two terms, from 1789 to 1797, and voluntarily retired afterward. His decision helped establish the tradition that presidents should leave office after two terms, a practice later formalized by the Twenty-Second Amendment in 1951.