Who served as the first Secretary of War under President Washington?

B. Henry Knox was appointed as the first Secretary of War under President George Washington. In this role, Knox was responsible for overseeing the nation’s military affairs during the early years of the United States, a time marked by the need for establishing a professional military and creating a defense policy for the newly formed nation. His experience as a military officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution made him a suitable choice for this position, as he had a deep understanding of the issues facing the fledgling nation regarding defense and military organization.

The other individuals mentioned had significant roles in Washington’s administration but in different capacities. John Adams served as the Vice President, Thomas Jefferson was the Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury. Each of these figures contributed to the formation of the early U.S. government, but only Henry Knox was specifically tasked with managing military matters as Secretary of War.