Who presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787?

George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

Delegates elected Washington president of the convention unanimously after a quorum was reached on May 25, 1787. His reputation as the former commander of the Continental Army gave the proceedings authority, even though he rarely led debates or introduced proposals. He generally maintained order and followed the convention’s rules.

The convention originally met to revise the Articles of Confederation, the nation’s first governing framework. Delegates soon decided that the existing system needed more than amendments and began designing an entirely new Constitution. The meetings took place in the Pennsylvania State House, later known as Independence Hall.

The convention completed its work on September 17, 1787. Washington was one of thirty-nine delegates who signed the Constitution. He later became the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797, and his leadership at the convention strengthened public confidence in the new framework.