George Washington (February 22, 1732– December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States, after leading the Continental Army to victory over the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Washington is seen as a symbol of the United States and republicanism in practice. His devotion to civic virtue made him an exemplary figure among early American politicians. Washington died in 1799, and in his funeral oration, Henry Lee said that of all Americans, he was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Washington has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.