George Washington became the first president of the United States during the founding era commemorated by America250.
The Electoral College elected Washington unanimously in the first presidential election under the Constitution. He took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789, and served until March 4, 1797. John Adams, his vice president, succeeded him.
Washington’s public career began before the presidency. He commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and led American and French forces to victory at Yorktown in 1781. He later presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which produced the Constitution.
Washington declined to seek a third term, establishing an influential early precedent. His presidency helped organize the new federal government, while his earlier military leadership made him a unifying figure in the transition from colonial resistance to national government.