Who was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775?

George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775.

The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, soon after fighting began in Massachusetts. Congress selected Washington, a Virginia planter and veteran of the French and Indian War, to lead the army because of his military experience and his ability to represent interests beyond New England.

Washington accepted the appointment without a salary, requesting only reimbursement for expenses. He took command at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in July 1775 and directed the siege that forced British troops to evacuate Boston in March 1776.

His leadership continued through difficult campaigns, including the winter encampment at Valley Forge and the final Yorktown campaign. Washington’s role in the Revolution made him a central figure in the new republic and later helped establish the tradition that the United States president serves as commander in chief.