Donald Trump Inauguration: Who Was The First US President To Be Inaugurated

The United States will get its 47th President on January 20th when Donald Trump takes the oath of office. The ceremony will take place at the US Capitol, with proceedings expected to get underway at noon ET (10:30 PM India time).

The US' history of presidential inaugurations dates back to 1789 when George Washington was sworn in as the first American President. Ahead of the much-anticipated event, here we take a look at how the first presidential inauguration went:

First US presidential inauguration

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office on the balcony of the Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York.

Interestingly, the US Congress had initially scheduled the maiden inauguration for March 4, 1789, but it was postponed because the counting of ballots couldn't be completed.

The harsh winters made it difficult to travel, and it wasn't until April 6 that enough Congressmen reached New York to count the electors' votes before announcing George Washington as the US President.

Then, the first inauguration was postponed to allow time for the then-president-elect to make the long trip from his home in Virginia to New York City.

Back then, it took several days for the news to reach Mount Vernon, Washington's home in Virginia. Once informed, he set off for the then-US capital.

Washington is said to have travelled by coach and on horseback through Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia, before finally arriving in New York City aboard a grand barge, which was rowed from New Jersey across Newark Bay. 

Inauguration ceremony traditions

The first inauguration also set the foundation for several traditions that continue to be followed. For example, Washington followed his swearing-in with the Inaugural Address, a special speech written for the occasion.

The inauguration day in 1789 started with the sounds of church bells and ceremonial artillery ringing across New York City. At noon, Washington appeared through large crowds to Federal Hall, where the houses of Congress assembled to attend the swearing-in. 

At around 2 pm, Washington was escorted to a balcony outside the chamber. Soon after, the then New York Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the oath, with the secretary of the Senate holding the ceremonial Bible.