George Washington Led Siege of Boston Before Presidency

The Siege of Boston was Washington's first major military campaign as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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More than a decade before becoming the country's first president, George Washington led the Siege of Boston, a critical campaign in the early days of the American Revolution. The siege, which lasted nearly a year, bottled up as many as 11,000 British troops and hundreds of loyalists in Boston, eventually leading to the British abandoning the city in March 1776. Historians argue the success of the siege gave new life and momentum to the Revolution.

Why it matters

The Siege of Boston was a pivotal moment in Washington's military and political career, cementing his role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and setting the stage for his future successes. The siege also played a key role in ridding Boston of loyalists at a critical time, denying the British access to an important port, and boosting patriot morale.

The details

Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord, militias had pinned down the British in Boston in April 1775. The Continental Congress selected Washington to lead the newly formed Continental Army. A critical decision by Washington was sending Henry Knox to retrieve dozens of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, which were then used to fire on British positions, contributing to the British decision to abandon the city.

  • The Siege of Boston began in April 1775, shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
  • The British abandoned Boston on March 17, 1776, after facing dwindling supplies during the nearly year-long siege.

The players

George Washington

The first president of the United States, who at the time was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and led the Siege of Boston, his first major military campaign.

Henry Knox

A young bookseller who was tasked by Washington to retrieve dozens of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, which were then used to fire on British positions in Boston.

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What they’re saying

“The success of the Siege of Boston gave new life and momentum to the Revolution. Had it failed, royal control of New England would have continued, and the Continental Army likely would have dissolved.”

— Chris Beagan, Site manager at Longfellow House in Cambridge, a National Historic Site that served as Washington's headquarters during the American Revolution (wnyt.com)

“He comes to embody the cause in a time before you have a nation, before you have a Declaration of Independence, before you're really sure what is the goal of this struggle. He becomes the face of the revolutionary movement.”

— Doug Bradburn, President of George Washington's Mount Vernon (wnyt.com)

What’s next

Historians and experts continue to study the Siege of Boston and its lasting impact on Washington's military and political career, as well as its significance in the broader context of the American Revolution.

The takeaway

The Siege of Boston was a pivotal moment in George Washington's rise to prominence, cementing his role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and setting the stage for his future successes as a military leader and the nation's first president.