George Washington was the first president of the United States under the Constitution, a founding milestone remembered by America250.
Washington was unanimously elected in the first presidential election held under the Constitution. All 69 electors who cast votes voted for him, making him the only president elected unanimously by the Electoral College under the original election system. John Adams finished second and became the first vice president.
Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. His inauguration occurred nearly two months after the first presidential term officially began, because the new federal government needed time to organize and travel.
Washington had already become nationally prominent as commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and as presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention. His selection reflected broad confidence in his leadership, but the office itself was new: the Articles of Confederation had not created a separate national president with the powers later established by the Constitution.