Who was the first president of the United States?
George Washington was the first president of the United States. He served two terms, from 1789 to 1797, after leading the Continental Army in the Revolution.
Washington was elected unanimously by the Electoral College in 1789, the only president to win every elector's vote, and he did it twice. He took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, which was then the nation's capital.
Before becoming president, Washington commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787. His leadership made him a natural choice for the new office.
A lasting example
Washington chose to step down after two terms, setting a tradition that lasted until Franklin D. Roosevelt won four elections. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, made the two-term limit law. Washington is the only president who never lived in the White House; it was finished after he left office. His face appears on the one-dollar bill and the quarter.
Did You Know?
Washington owned an estate called Mount Vernon in Virginia, where he is buried. The US capital, Washington, D.C., and the state of Washington are named after him, as are many towns, counties, schools and bridges across the country.