Who was the first President of the United States?

The first President of the United States was George Washington, who served from 1789 to 1797. Washington is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" due to his crucial leadership role during the American Revolutionary War and his precedent-setting presidency. He was unanimously elected as the first president by the Electoral College and is renowned for establishing many protocols and traditions that still define the office today. His leadership helped unify the nation during its formative years, and his decision to step down after two terms set an important precedent for the democratic transition of power in the U.S.

The other figures mentioned played significant roles in American history but did not serve as the nation's first president. Thomas Jefferson was the third president, Abraham Lincoln served as the sixteenth, and Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty-sixth president. Each made important contributions to the United States, but none were the first to hold the presidency.