Henry Lee of Virginia eulogized George Washington with these words, which were adopted by Congress immediately upon Washington’s death in 1799.

Only two years before, Washington had retired to his Virginia estate, Mount Vernon, after serving our nation as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, President of the Constitutional Convention, and the first President of the United States. Washington was elected president unanimously by the Electoral College twice and served two terms, but declined a third.

George Washington

(February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)

“First in War,
First in Peace, and
First in the Hearts of his Countrymen”