George Washington became the first president of the United States under the Constitution.
The Electoral College unanimously elected Washington in 1789, making him the only U.S. president to receive every electoral vote in an election. He took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, the nation’s first constitutional capital.
Washington had already led the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His reputation for military leadership and his decision to surrender power after the war helped make him a broadly acceptable choice for the new presidency. The Constitution gave the office substantial responsibilities, but many practical details still had to be established.
He served two terms, from 1789 to 1797, and declined to seek a third. His retirement helped establish the tradition that presidents should leave office voluntarily after two terms, a practice later limited by the Twenty-Second Amendment. Washington’s first administration also created the Cabinet departments and helped define the relationship between the president and Congress.