Who served as president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution in 1787?

George Washington served as president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

The convention met in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. Delegates selected Washington to preside over their proceedings, while James Madison became one of the most influential contributors to the debates and drafting process. Washington generally spoke sparingly, but his presence gave the gathering prestige.

The convention replaced the Articles of Confederation with a proposed Constitution establishing a stronger federal government. Delegates negotiated major compromises involving representation, taxation, executive power, and slavery. The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, and then sent to the states for ratification.

Washington’s convention role came before his presidency. He was unanimously elected the first president under the new Constitution and took office in 1789. Benjamin Franklin was also a delegate and the convention’s oldest signer, but he did not preside over it.