Commanding General of the United States Army

Commanding General of the United States Army
LTG Nelson A. Miles, the last Commanding General of the United States Army
Department of War
Reports to	Secretary of War
Appointer	The President with Congress advice and consent
Formation	June 15, 1775^{[nb 1]} June 1821^{[nb 2]}
First holder	GEN George Washington^{[nb 1]} MG Jacob Brown^{[nb 2]}
Final holder	LTG Nelson A. Miles
Abolished	August 8, 1903
Succession	Chief of Staff of the Army

Prior to the institution of the Chief of Staff of the Army in 1903, there was generally recognized to be a single senior-most officer in the United States Army (and its predecessor the Continental Army), even though there was not a statutory office as such. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the title was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. In 1783, the title was simplified to Senior Officer of the United States Army. In 1821, the title was changed to Commanding General of the United States Army. The office was often referred to by various other titles, such as "Major General Commanding the Army" or "General-in-Chief."

From 1789 until its abolition in 1903, the position of Commanding General was legally subordinate to the Secretary of War, although this was at times contested.^{[nb 3]}

The position was abolished with the creation of the statutory Chief of Staff of the Army in 1903.

Office holders

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army

#	Name	Photo	Term began	Term ended	Notes
1.	GEN George Washington		June 15, 1775	December 23, 1783	Appointed by the Second Continental Congress, after being nominated by John Adams. Resigned at the end of the American Revolutionary War.

Senior Officer of the United States Army

#	Name	Term began	Term ended	Notes
1.	MG Henry Knox	December 23, 1783	June 20, 1784
2.	Brevet MAJ John Doughty	June 20, 1784	August 12, 1784	Served when all of the Army but 80 men were discharged.
3.	Brevet BG Josiah Harmar	August 12, 1784	March 4, 1791	Removed by President George Washington in the aftermath of the Harmar Campaign.
4.	MG Arthur St. Clair	March 4, 1791	March 5, 1792	Simultaneously served as Governor of the Northwest Territory (1787–1802). Resigned as Senior Officer at the request of President George Washington, in the aftermath of the St. Clair's Defeat.
5.	MG Anthony Wayne	April 13, 1792	December 15, 1796	Died in office.
6.	BG James Wilkinson	December 15, 1796	July, 13 1798	First tenure.
7.	LTG George Washington	July 13, 1798	December 14, 1799	Appointed during the Quasi-War against the French Republic. Did not actively command the Army during this period but was prepared to lead the Army if the need arose. Died in office.
8.	MG Alexander Hamilton	December 14, 1799	June 15, 1800	Served as Inspector General of the Army with rank of major general from July 19, 1798. Became Senior Officer in the Army after the death of Washington.
9.	BG James Wilkinson	June 15, 1800	January 27, 1812	Second tenure. Promoted to major general during the War of 1812 and retired on June 15, 1815.
10.	MG Henry Dearborn	January 27, 1812	June 15, 1815	Previously served as Secretary of War (1801–1809). Last American Revolutionary War veteran to serve as Senior Officer.
11.	MG Jacob Brown	June 15, 1815	June 1821