Who was unanimously elected president in the first U.S. presidential election of 1788–1789?

George Washington was unanimously elected president in the first U.S. presidential election of 1788–1789.

All 69 participating electors cast one vote for Washington. The election was held under the new Constitution and was the first national presidential election in U.S. history. Washington’s reputation as former commander of the Continental Army made him the overwhelming consensus choice.

The original constitutional system did not provide separate electoral votes for president and vice president. Each elector cast two votes, and the candidate with the most votes became president while the runner-up became vice president. John Adams received 34 votes and became the first vice president.

Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution and did not participate, while New York failed to appoint its electors in time. The Twelfth Amendment later changed the Electoral College procedure so electors voted separately for president and vice president.