Who became the first president of the United States at the 1789 inaugural ceremony?

George Washington became the first president of the United States at the 1789 inaugural ceremony.

Washington took the presidential oath on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. Robert R. Livingston, the chancellor of New York, administered the oath before a large public gathering. John Adams had already become vice president and presided over the Senate.

The ceremony marked the practical beginning of the executive branch under the Constitution. Washington then delivered his inaugural address to Congress, expressing concern about the difficulty of leading the new republic and emphasizing public unity.

The inauguration was held in New York because the city was temporarily serving as the national capital. Philadelphia became the capital in 1790, and Washington, D.C., became the permanent capital in 1800. Washington’s first inauguration is distinct from his second, held in Philadelphia in 1793.