On February 4, 1789, General George Washington was elected the first president of the United States. This made him the first president in U.S. history and the first person in the world to assume the title.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Raised in a prosperous family, he began his military career in 1753 when he was appointed a major in the Virginia militia. He fought in his first battle during the French and Indian War in 1754 but suffered defeat. In 1755, he was appointed a British Army advisor, beginning his full-fledged military career.
1775, Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, leading the American Revolutionary War. Throughout the eight-year conflict, he faced numerous challenges and hardships. The harsh winter at Valley Forge became a defining moment that showcased his leadership and unyielding determination. Through exceptional strategy and leadership, Washington guided the Continental Army to victory, securing American independence from Britain in 1783.
Following the war, Washington was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States and was officially inaugurated on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York. In his inaugural address, he emphasized, “Having won freedom and independence, we must now establish a new government and pursue the happiness of our people.”
As the first president, Washington worked to lay the nation’s foundation. He established the judiciary and executive branches, strengthened the federal government’s authority, and set fundamental principles for national governance. In foreign affairs, he pursued a neutrality policy to ensure the young nation’s stability.
When he stepped down from the presidency in 1796, Washington set a precedent: “A president serving the people should not remain in office for more than eight years.” This tradition later became the foundation for the term limits of U.S. presidents. After retiring, he returned to his plantation and lived a peaceful life until his passing on December 14, 1799, at 67.