<P> The July 1790 Residence Act named Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the temporary national capital for a 10 - year period while the Federal City was under construction . The City of Philadelphia rented Robert Morris's city house at 190 High Street (now 524--30 Market Street) for Washington's presidential residence . </P> <P> The first U.S. President occupied the Market Street mansion from November 1790 to March 1797 and altered it in ways that may have influenced the design of the White House . As part of a futile effort to have Philadelphia named the permanent national capital, Pennsylvania built a much grander presidential mansion several blocks away, but Washington declined to occupy it . </P> <P> President John Adams also occupied the Market Street mansion from March 1797 to May 1800 . On Saturday, November 1, 1800, he became the first president to occupy the White House . The President's House in Philadelphia became a hotel and was demolished in 1832, while the unused presidential mansion became home to the University of Pennsylvania . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> First Presidential Mansion: Samuel Osgood House, Manhattan, New York . Occupied by Washington: April 1789--February 1790 . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Second Presidential Mansion: Alexander Macomb House, Manhattan, New York . Occupied by Washington: February--August 1790 . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Third Presidential Mansion: President's House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . Occupied by Washington: November 1790--March 1797 . Occupied by Adams: March 1797--May 1800 . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Government House, Manhattan, New York (1790--1791). Built to be the permanent presidential mansion, Congress moved the national capital to Philadelphia before its completion . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> House intended for the President, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1790s). Built to be the permanent presidential mansion, neither Washington nor Adams would occupy it . </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who was first president in the white house