PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON - ENGRAVING UNSIGNED - HFSID 3005396

GEORGE WASHINGTON
An unsigned engraving depicting Washington with other convention delegrates hammering out the United States Constitution
Engraving Unsigned. B/w, 9¾x6½. Captioned: "WASHINGTON PRESIDING AT IN THE CONVENTION 1787." George Washington (1732-1799), who became known as the "Father of His Country", set precedents for future Presidents by limiting his service as first U.S. President to two terms. A delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia (1774-1775) and member of the U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787), Washington was also known for his contributions to American freedom with his leadership of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Washington's contributions to the U.S. Constitution began with a meeting in his library at Mt. Vernon, where a discussion was held regarding the need for the states to meet to work out defects in the nation's new government. While a preliminary convention was called at Annapolis, Maryland on September 11, 1786, only five states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia) sent delegates, resulting in a new convention being called. In May 1787, delegates from all the states except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia. Washington, a delegate from Virginia was chosen to preside over the deliberations and his close friend, William Jackson, was named Secretary. While Washington contributed little to the debates over the delegates' debates for replacing the inadequate Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution, his presence alone kept the proceedings in order. When the finalized version of the new Constitution was presented to the delegates on September 19, 1787, Washington was the first to sign it. Chip in lower edge.  Lightly stained. Otherwise, fine condition.