George Washington
February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799
George was the youngest of three sons. He was born and raised on a farm in Virginia. He was educated at home by his father and brother. When he was in his youth, he worked as a surveyor. He only traveled outside of what is now the United States once during his lifetime to go to Barbados with his sickly brother. After his brother’s death Washington inherited lands and slaves.
In 1752 he joined the British militia. He became a major in rank at the age of twenty and his assignment was to train the troops under his command.
In 1753 he was asked by the governor to carry a message to the French Canadians on the Ohio frontier. The message told the French to leave the area. During the battle at Fort Necessity, Washington had his only military surrender during his entire military career. After returning from this trip Washington resigned this command.
In 1755 Washington was again apart of the British militia. After showing himself to be a good military commander, he was promoted to the head of all of the Virginia militia.
In 1758 he resigned his commission and became a Virginia planter and politician for the next sixteen years. He married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow, and inherited more land and slaves. This plantation was eventually known as Mount Vernon. The plantation first planted tobacco but Washington soon decided to diversify into other crops such as wheat, which could be used and sold locally.
It is recorded that Washington owned slaves throughout his life. He also had some white indentured servants. Washington never freed his slaves during his life but there was a provision in his will that they would be freed after the death of his wife Martha.
Because of his land holdings, he was elected as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758. He began to become active in colonial causes in 1769 when Parliament introduced the Intolerable Acts.
In 1775 he attended the Second Continental Congress dressed in full military uniform. Later, he was chosen to be the new Commander-and-Chief of the Continental Army and he was nominated by John Adams. He participated in numerous battles throughout the Revolutionary War where he saw many victories and some retreats. During the harsh winters of the north, Washington had to fight many up hill battles just to keep men in his army. To keep the men to their task of fighting, he tried to reward those who stayed and punished those who deserted.
One of his worst remembered winters was during the winter of 1777 when he and his men camped at Valley Forge. Twenty five hundred men in the army of ten thousand died of disease and exposure to the harsh winter. However, during this winter the remaining men emerged in the spring as a well trained army.
He continued to serve his country as the Commander until December 23, 1783 when he resigned his commission.
In 1787 he attended the Congressional Convention and was nominated in 1789 as this nation’s first President under the new Constitution. He served a second term which began in 1792. John Adams was his Vice President during both terms.
Washington has gone down in history as a good President. Often before making decision about the country, he would seek the advice of his cabinet. Washington never lived in the White House. However, he oversaw the surveying and planning for the city of Washington D.c..
In 1797 Washington resigned the Presidency and returned to Mount Vernon. He had plans to become a farmer for the rest of his life. One day he went to look over his property in a terrible rain storm and it is reported that he did not change his wet clothes before sitting down to dinner. The next day he awoke with a bad cold which eventually developed into pneumonia. He died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67.
Washington is now known as “the Father of His Country”.
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