George Washington, the first President of the United States, was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His birthday became one of America's first federal holidays — and this countdown runs to the next February 22.
Americans celebrated Washington's birthday during his own lifetime, and Congress made it a federal holiday in 1879 — the first to honor an individual. The federal observance falls on the third Monday of February, which is why many people know it as Presidents' Day, but the actual birthday is February 22.
Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731, under the old Julian calendar. When Britain and its colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, his birthday moved to February 22, 1732 — so he aged a year and 11 days on paper overnight.