George Washington Established Thanksgiving

Given under my hand, at the city of New York,
the 3rd day of October, AD 1789
-George Washington

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to be grateful for His benefits,
and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both
Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me
“to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public
thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with
grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God,
especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish
a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th
day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States
to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent
Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may
then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks
for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous
to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the
favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion
of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty
which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner
in which we have enabled do establish constitutions of government
for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now
lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are
blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful
knowledge; and, in general, for the great and various favors which
He has been please to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our
prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations,
and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;
to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform
our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render
our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly
being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly
and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all
sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to
us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord;
to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue,
and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to
grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He
alone knows to be best.