Who was the first President of the United States?

George Washington was the first President of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" for his leadership in the founding of the nation and his pivotal role during the Revolutionary War. Washington set many precedents for the office of the presidency, including the tradition of a two-term limit and the formation of a Cabinet of advisors. His leadership helped to unify the fledgling states and establish a functioning federal government, creating a framework that continues to influence the presidency today.

The other choices listed, while all significant figures in American history, held the presidency at later times. Thomas Jefferson became the third president, Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth, and Theodore Roosevelt served as the twenty-sixth. Each contributed greatly to the development of the United States but did so after George Washington had already laid the foundational work for the executive branch and the office itself.