U.S. Presidents/George Washington

George Washington (1732–1799) was the very first president of the United States. He was born into a Virginia planter family in 1732. In 1754, he was commissioned a lieutenant general in the French and Indian War. In 1775, Washington was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Through strong leadership, he made the British army surrender in 1781. After leading America to victory, Washington was considered a national hero. However, he simply wished to retire at his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Seeing the need for a Constitution and a strong government, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787. In 1789, Washington was unanimously elected America's first president. John Adams, who placed second, became the nation's first vice president. Washington was the only president who did not belong to a political party, as political parties didn't exist yet. He created the United States Army and the Federal Reserve, as well as establishing a national capital on the Potomac River, later named Washington in his honor. After two terms as President, Washington decided to step down and return to Mount Vernon, setting a precedent all future two-term presidents would follow for the next 140 years. Washington fell ill and died at Mount Vernon in 1799.