George Washington was a man of his time, and it can be hard to believe that he has been dead for over two centuries. George Washington is the only president in American history who did not live to see himself inaugurated.
Life of George Washington changed when he was elected President in 1789 after serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. George died on December 14, 1799 at age 67 and served 2 terms as president before retiring from public service in 1797.
George Washington’s birth
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. George’s father died when he was 11 years old and George became the head of his family. George grew to be a strong leader with an unrivaled sense of integrity. George is best known for his role as Commander-in-Chief during the American Revolution and later as President of the United States.
Read: Life of Nelson Mandela: Prisoner to President
George Washington was born to George and Mary Ball Washington, who had already been living on the family plantation since George Sr. retired from his military career. George Jr. would follow in his father’s footsteps as a soldier, though he never quite reached the same levels of success that George Sr., enjoyed during his lifetime.
George Washington’s childhood days
George spent much of his childhood helping tend the farm animals and crops at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia. By age 11 George had developed strong leadership skills during the vigorous work, he also learned how to read and write.
George’s half brother Lawrence had been appointed Washington’s legal guardian after George Sr. died unexpectedly in 1743.
George became a surveyor apprentice at age 16, which meant he was qualified to help map out property boundaries for local farmers.
Washington served as president from 1789 until 1797 when he retired after two terms in office.
George Washington was the first President of the United States. He also commanded the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, and later presided over the 1787 convention that drafted the United States Constitution.
The American Revolution
The American Revolution was a time of great conflict. George Washington, the first President of the United States, had to fight for his country’s independence from Great Britain and its power in North America. George Washington has been called many things; an American Founding Father, a hero and even “the father of our country.” George Washington: A Man of His Time is a biography that looks at George Washington’s life and legacy in detail.
He led America through the Revolutionary War and helped form the United States Constitution, but George Washington was not perfect. George had many flaws, such as his poor financial decisions and inability to control his temper at times. Despite these flaws George’s legacy is one that every American should be proud of, because George Washington helped shape our country into what it is today!
Despite his many accomplishments, there are some misconceptions about him. For example, did you know that he never told a lie? Or that he was one of America’s greatest generals? We don’t either! And we want to learn more about this great man! But it can be hard to find information on him (especially if you’re not an expert).
George Washington’s rise to fame
Washington first gained notoriety as public opposition to British excise tax policies in the colonies grew. George was elected to his local Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758 and became one of its outspoken members, taking part in Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.
George began wearing his military uniform again as he felt it had more authority but also took a cue from Benjamin Franklin and George Mason’s philosophy of a citizen soldier. George was the only one to specifically wear military uniform in the House of Burgesses. George Washington became a war hero after helping defeat the French at Jumonville Glen, Pennsylvania in 1754 where he took part in his first battle.
George was originally appointed as a major but ended up serving as a full colonel. George also fought and helped win the Seven Years’ War (also known as French and Indian War) with Great Britain and Prussia. George was then sent to deliver a letter from Virginia’s governor to the French demanding they leave the Ohio River valley but George mistakenly met with an officer of lower rank, Ensign Jumonville, who George killed in the skirmish which led to George’s becoming a war hero.
George also carried out important duties as an envoy of Virginia governor Robert Dinwiddie and later became aide-de-camp to British General John Forbes during the French and Indian War (North American theater of the Seven Years’ War).
George Washington’s marriage life
George married Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759 who George then had six children with.
George grew wheat and tobacco on his plantation to sell in England. Later George also built up an impressive amount of land throughout the colony which made him one of Virginia’s wealthiest men.
George Washington’s emergence as a leader
George Washington had a natural gift for leadership and was elected as a Virginia delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774 where George passionately argued against British oppression and tyranny.
George Washington became known as a statesman who could unite the colonies together for freedom from Britain. George led his troops all the way to Boston during a snowstorm on March 5, 1776 to help break the siege of General Thomas Gage.
George Washington was elected unanimously as president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 14, 1787.
George Washington was a Federalist and a Republican who agreed to be the United States’ first president where George’s presidential cabinet included Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Henry Knox as secretary of war, Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the Treasury and Edmund Jennings Randolph as attorney general. George Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 to keep America out of the French Revolutionary Wars, which George also supported Alexander Hamilton’s plan for a national bank which George signed into law as The First Bank of the United States.
George Washington’s death
George Washington was the only one in Washington’s family that survived past 63 years old. George died of severe fever on December 14, 1799 in New York City and George is now buried at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
George is remembered as a great leader, and George was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Interesting Facts about George Washington
- George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
- George Washington is the first President of the United States who served two terms from 1789 to 1797.
- George Washington is called “the Father of our Country.”
- George became the only one to specifically wear military uniform in the House of Burgesses.
Books on Life of George Washington
George Washington: Man and Monument
George Washington: The Man Behind the Myths
George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots
George Washington and the General’s Dog: Dogs, Slaves, and George Washington’s Revolutionary Transformation
George Washington (American Dream Makers)
George Washington (Great American Historians on Our First President)
George Washington (Great American Lives)
George Washington (Heroes of History)
George Washington, Mr. President: A Life Recounted
George Washington on Leadership: Executive Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision
George Washington’s Leadership Lessons : Timeless Strategies from the Father of Our Country
Conclusion
This article is for people who have little or no knowledge about Washington’s life and achievements, but would still like to learn more. You’ll discover what made him such a successful leader; how he became commander-in-chief of America’s army; how he helped shape US history; and more.
You can visit Wikipedia to read about George Washington in detail.
In this blog post, we covered some lesser-known facts on the life of George Washington and how they relate to his legacy as one America’s founding fathers. We hope you have enjoyed it!
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