George Washington was elected president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the United States Constitution.
The convention met in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. Delegates originally gathered to consider changes to the Articles of Confederation, but they ultimately designed an entirely new framework of government.
Washington’s reputation as the former commanding general of the Continental Army helped him provide authority and stability to the proceedings. He generally presided over debates rather than leading the detailed drafting work.
James Madison was a major intellectual architect of the convention and kept extensive notes, while Gouverneur Morris helped shape the final wording. Washington later became the first president under the new Constitution, taking office in 1789.