George Washington

Some Americans wanted to make George Washington the king of the new country.  George Washington would have none of that.  This was America—it wasn't about him.  The Kings and Queens of Europe could not believe that George Washington was stepping aside to become a common citizen after being the President of the United States.  But they recognized the enormity of the action.  The King of England declared that if George Washington did indeed relinquish his power, he would be the greatest man who ever lived.  America, through George Washington, was showing the world a better way to govern.