Washington D.C. is a "district" created by the Congress of the United States in 1790 as the nation's capital. In the early years, the U.S. Congress met in several cities, including Philadelphia, New York and Princeton, before committing to a permanent seat of government in 1790. George Washington personally selected the site of the nation's permanent capital in 1791, and Congress agreed because it was a natural midpoint that would satisfy both northern and southern states. President George Washington commissioned French architect Pierre L'Enfant, one of his staff officers at Valley Forge, to design the new city. But, soon after construction began, L'Enfant was fired and replaced by city surveyor Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker, a freeborn black man who was an astronomer and mathematician. Parts of L'Enfant's vision for the layout of the city can still be seen today, including the Washington Monument. Work started on the ornate Capitol in 1793, and the seat of government was transferred from Philadelphia to Washington on 1 December 1800. But, construction of the first phase of the Capitol was not completed until 1826. President John Adams was the first resident in the White House, moving into the unfinished building in 1800. Washington D.C. plays a unique role both in national and international life. It is the only major planned city in the