George Washington, the first president of the United States, is often associated with Washington, D.C., the capital city that bears his name. However, throughout his presidency from 1789 to 1797, he never actually lived in the city. Washington, D.C., was under construction during his administration and would not serve as the official capital until after he left office.
Before Washington, D.C., took on its role as the nation's capital, New York City was the first official capital of the United States. The first U.S. Congress met there, and it was in New York City where George Washington took his first oath of office in April 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. This historic event marked the commencement of the new federal government under the newly ratified U.S. Constitution.
However, the capital moved from New York City to Philadelphia in December 1790. Philadelphia was then the largest city in the nation and served as a central and accessible location for all the states. As president, Washington lived in two different houses during his time in Philadelphia. The first was the Samuel Osgood House at Cherry Street, which was considered the first official presidential residence. Later, he moved to the larger Robert Morris mansion on Market Street, which offered more space and comfort. Washington spent the majority of his presidency in Philadelphia, remaining there until 1797.
The decision to establish Washington, D.C. as the new capital was a result of a compromise involving Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, often referred to as the Compromise of 1790. The agreement was to pass Hamilton’s proposal for the federal government to assume state debts, in exchange for support from northern states to establish the capital along the Potomac River.
George Washington played a significant role in overseeing the development of the new capital. He chose French engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant to design the city, and he took a personal interest in the development projects, including the construction of the presidential residence. Despite his contributions, Washington would retire from the presidency in March 1797, before the federal government officially moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. in 1800.
Thus, while George Washington was the first president of the United States and contributed profoundly to the establishment of Washington, D.C. as the country's political heart, he himself never resided in the city as president, spending his presidential years in New York and Philadelphia.
