GW at the State House in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. In today’s proceedings, John Hancock, president of the Congress, officially informed GW that he had been unanimously chosen as General and Commander-in-Chief of the American military. GW addressed the Congress and accepted the position. In his address, he humbly thanked the Congress for the appointment, though “I do not think my self equal to the Command I am honoured with.” He requested that he not be paid a salary, that he only be paid for the expenses he incurred. He explained that “no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this Arduous emploiment at the expence of my domestk ease and happiness” and that he “did not wish to make any profit from it.”

GW dined at Dr. Thomas Cadwaladers’ home that evening.