George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was an American political leader, military general, statesman, and founding father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which established the U.S. Constitution. Washington then proceeded to New York City, arriving on April 13, 1776, and began constructing fortifications there to thwart the expected British attack. Historian John Ferling, however, maintains that Washington remains the only founder and president ever to be referred to as 'godlike', and points out that his character has been the most scrutinized by historians, past and present. Historian Gordon S. Wood concludes that 'the greatest act of his life, the one that gave him his greatest fame, was his resignation as commander-in-chief of the American forces.'
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