Who was the first person inaugurated as president of the United States?

George Washington was the first person inaugurated as president of the United States. He took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, in New York City.

Washington had commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later presided over the Constitutional Convention. His reputation for military leadership and public service made him the unanimous choice of the Electoral College in the first presidential election.

The ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the oath, and Washington then delivered his inaugural address to Congress. John Adams became vice president and was inaugurated separately.

The first inauguration is distinct from the Declaration's adoption in 1776 and the Constitution's signing in 1787. It marked the practical beginning of the federal government established by the Constitution. Philadelphia became the national capital in 1790, and Washington, D.C., became the permanent capital later.