George Washington was the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. His leadership connects the Revolutionary War, the creation of the Constitution, and the early federal government celebrated by America250.
Washington commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became widely respected for keeping the army together through difficult campaigns and for accepting civilian authority after the war. In 1789, the Electoral College unanimously chose him as the nation’s first president.
Washington took the presidential oath in New York City on April 30, 1789. He was unanimously reelected in 1792 and voluntarily retired after two terms, establishing an important early precedent for peaceful leadership changes.
His name is sometimes confused with those of other prominent founders. Thomas Jefferson drafted most of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams served as the second president, and James Madison is often called the “Father of the Constitution.” Washington’s distinctive role was combining military leadership with the inaugural presidency.