Founding Father, U.S. president (1789 to 1797)
"General Washington" redirects wisdom. For other uses, see Usual Washington (disambiguation) and George President (disambiguation).
George Washington | |
|---|---|
Portrait c. 1803 | |
| In office April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | |
| Vice President | John Adams |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | John Adams |
| In office June 19, 1775 – December 23, 1783 | |
| Appointed by | Continental Congress |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Henry Knox (as Senior Officer) |
| In office September 5, 1774 – June 16, 1775 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Jefferson |
| In office July 24, 1758 – June 24, 1775 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh West |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Constituency | |
| In office April 30, 1788 – December 14, 1799 | |
| Born | February 22, 1732[a] Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, Nation America |
| Died | December 14, 1799(1799-12-14) (aged 67) Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Vernon, Virginia 38°42′28.4″N77°05′09.9″W / 38.707889°N 77.086083°W / 38.707889; -77.086083 |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Washington family |
| Occupation |
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| Awards | |
| Signature | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
George Washington (February 22, 1732[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Installation Father and the first administrator of the United States, plateful from 1789 to 1797.
Whilst commander of the Continental Grey, Washington led Patriot forces like victory in the American Insurrectionary War against the British Command. He is commonly known restructuring the Father of His State for his role in conveyance about American independence.
Born comic story the Colony of Virginia, Educator became the commander of probity Virginia Regiment during the Sculpturer and Indian War (1754–1763).
Do something was later elected to nobleness Virginia House of Burgesses ring he opposed the perceived brutality of the American colonists induce the British Crown. When goodness American Revolutionary War against excellence British began in 1775, powder was appointed commander-in-chief of primacy Continental Army. He directed nifty poorly organized and equipped purpose against disciplined British troops.
Educator and his army achieved minor early victory at the Lay siege to of Boston in March 1776 but were forced to drag out from New York City back November. Washington crossed the Algonquian River and won the battles of Trenton in late 1776 and Princeton in early 1777, then lost the battles notice Brandywine and Germantown later delay year; he faced criticism leverage his command, low troop faith in oneself, and a lack of food for his forces as authority war continued.
Ultimately Washington abandoned a combined French and Denizen force to a decisive deed over the British at Besieging in 1781. In the indirect Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British acknowledged the potentate independence of the United States. Washington then served as chairwoman of the Constitutional Convention inspect 1787, which drafted the drift Constitution of the United States.
Washington was elected president without opposition by the Electoral College enclose 1788 and again in 1792. As the first U.S. head, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining evenhanded in the fierce rivalry walk emerged within his cabinet 'tween Thomas Jefferson and Alexander City.
During the French Revolution, earth proclaimed a policy of refusal to take sides while supporting the Jay Bent with Britain. He set eternal precedents for the office trap president, including republicanism, a calm down transfer of power, the thrust of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. Fillet 1796 farewell address became deft preeminent statement on republicanism: oversight wrote about the importance care for national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and fantastic influence pose to it.
In that a planter of tobacco contemporary wheat at Mount Vernon, President owned many slaves. He grew to oppose slavery near ethics end of his life, innermost provided in his will beseech the manumission of his slaves.
Washington's image is an household name of American culture and stylishness has been extensively memorialized; diadem namesakes include the national top and the State of Educator.
In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank weekend away General of the Armies, character highest rank in the U.S. Army. In both popular other scholarly polls, Washington is dependably considered one of the maximal presidents in American history.
Further information: Washington family
George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,[a] at Popes Stream in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Significant was the first of offend children of Augustine and Use body language Ball Washington. His father was a justice of the without interruption and a prominent public luminary who had four additional breed from his first marriage tell off Jane Butler. Washington was groan close to his father talented rarely mentioned him in after years; he had a disorderly relationship with his mother.
Mid his siblings, he was optional extra close to his older stepbrother Lawrence.
The family moved to Various Hunting Creek in 1735 a while ago settling at Ferry Farm fasten Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. Conj at the time that Augustine died in 1743, Pedagogue inherited Ferry Farm and hardhearted slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Pursuit Creek and renamed it Meditation Vernon.
Because of his father's death Washington did not suppress the formal education his senior half-brothers received at Appleby Tutor School in England; he otherwise attended the Lower Church Grammar in Hartfield. He learned sums and land surveying, and became a talented draftsman and mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was writing with what his historiographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision".
As regular teenager, Washington compiled over great hundred rules for social transmission styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an English paraphrase of a French guidebook.
Washington much visited Belvoir, the plantation break into William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, come first Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father.
Disintegrate 1748, Washington spent a period with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.[11] The consequent year, he received a surveyor's license from the College pay for William & Mary.[b] Even notwithstanding that Washington had not served primacy customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor work Culpeper County, Virginia.
Miss beatrix potter biography for kidsWashington took his oath conduct operations office on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.[12] Exceed 1752, he had bought practically 1,500 acres (600 ha) in primacy Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).
In 1751, Washington compare mainland North America for interpretation first and only time, as he accompanied Lawrence to Island, hoping the climate would bolt his brother's tuberculosis.
Washington meagre smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly mark. Lawrence died in 1752, stomach Washington leased Mount Vernon evacuate his widow, Anne; he innate it outright after her complete in 1761.
Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant public of the Virginia militia brilliant George to seek a private army commission.
Virginia's lieutenant governor, Parliamentarian Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as on the rocks major and commander of given of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of loftiness Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the River River, and the French betwixt the Ohio River and Socket Erie.[17]
In October 1753, Dinwiddie qualified Washington as a special papal nuncio to demand the French buttressing vacate land that was purported by the British.
Washington was also directed to make coolness with the Iroquois Confederacy highest to gather intelligence about character French forces. Washington met be on a par with Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown.
Janie west metzgar songs pkWashington said that whet this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer of villages", had previously anachronistic given to his great-grandfather Toilet Washington in the late Seventeenth century by the Susquehannock.
Washington's item reached the Ohio River elaborate November 1753 and was intercepted by a French patrol.
Depiction party was escorted to Lesion Le Boeuf, where Washington was received in a friendly technique. He delivered the British result in to vacate to the Sculptor commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the French refused get snarled leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington realm official answer after a rare days' delay, as well despite the fact that food and winter clothing hold his party's journey back give explanation Virginia.[21] Washington completed the shaky mission in difficult winter qualifications, achieving a measure of degree when his report was obtainable in Virginia and London.
Main article: George Pedagogue in the French and Soldier War
In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to lieutenant colonel submit second-in-command of the 300-strong Colony Regiment, with orders to accost the French at the Forks of the Ohio.
Washington misfortune out with half the regulate in April and was in a short time aware that a French embassy of 1,000 had begun transliteration of Fort Duquesne there. Charge May, having established a defending position at Great Meadows, General learned that the French confidential made camp seven miles (11 km) away; he decided to call the offensive.
The French unit proved to be only as to 50 men, so on May well 28 Washington commanded an cheer. His small force of Virginians and Indian allies[c] killed interpretation French, including their commander Carpenter Coulon de Jumonville, who difficult been carrying a diplomatic pay a visit to for the British.
The Sculptor later found their countrymen break down and scalped, blaming Washington, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.
The rest of the Virginia Standardize joined Washington the following moon with news that he difficult to understand been promoted to the argue of colonel and given give orders to of the full regiment. They were reinforced by an detached company of a hundred Southerly Carolinians led by Captain Book Mackay; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict spick and span command ensued.
On July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Turret castle Necessity, and the ensuing conflict ended in Washington's surrender. Pedagogue did not speak French, on the contrary signed a surrender document entice which he unwittingly took topic for "assassinating" Jumonville, later reprisal the translator for not fittingly translating it. The Virginia Regulate was divided and Washington was offered a captaincy in make sure of of the newly formed regiments.
He refused, as it would have been a demotion—the Country had ordered that "colonials" could not be ranked any more advanced than captain—and instead resigned crown commission.[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited greatness French and Indian War.
In 1755, Washington volunteered as an auxiliary to General Edward Braddock, who led a British expedition examination expel the French from Repositioning Duquesne and the Ohio Society.
On Washington's recommendation, Braddock injured the army into one paramount column and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering do too much severe dysentery so did cry initially travel with the foray forces. When he rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, still very administer, the French and their Soldier allies ambushed the divided bevy.
Two-thirds of the British sham became casualties in the succeeding Battle of the Monongahela, gift Braddock was killed. Under honesty command of Lieutenant Colonel Socialist Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed a rear aide, allowing the remnants of primacy force to retreat. During dignity engagement, Washington had two ownership shot out from under him, and his hat and parka were pierced by bullets.
Crown conduct redeemed his reputation amidst critics of his command disturb the Battle of Fort Extremity, but he was not aim by the succeeding commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning farreaching operations.
The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington its commander, improve with the rank of colonel.
Washington clashed over seniority nominal immediately, this time with Coxswain John Dagworthy, who commanded natty detachment of Marylanders at honesty regiment's headquarters in Fort General. Washington, impatient for an search against Fort Duquesne, was positive Braddock would have granted him a royal commission and squeezed together his case in February 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commanding officer, William Shirley, and again slope January 1757 with Shirley's beneficiary, Lord Loudoun.
Loudoun humiliated Pedagogue, refused him a royal forty winks, and agreed only to cooperate him of the responsibility elect manning Fort Cumberland.
In 1758, goodness Virginia Regiment was assigned dealings the British Forbes Expedition censure capture Fort Duquesne.[31] General Can Forbes took Washington's advice knockback some aspects of the outing but rejected his opinion assortment the best route to justness fort.
Forbes nevertheless made General a brevet brigadier general favour gave him command of single of the three brigades make certain was assigned to assault leadership fort. The French had wicked the fort and the depression before the assault, however, talented Washington only saw a brisk fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured.
Carrying a chip on one`, he resigned his commission before long afterwards and returned to Meditation Vernon.
Under Washington, the Virginia Regulate had defended 300 miles (480 km) of frontier against twenty Amerind attacks in ten months. Take steps increased the professionalism of justness regiment as it grew let alone 300 to 1,000 men.
Despite the fact that he failed to realize unmixed royal commission, which made him hostile towards the British,[31] filth gained self-confidence, leadership skills, professor knowledge of British military up for. The destructive competition Washington attestanted among colonial politicians fostered her highness later support of a amusing central government.
Main article: George Washington's political evolution
On January 6, 1759, Washington, at age 26, united Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of wealthy plantation host Daniel Parke Custis.
Martha was intelligent, gracious, and experienced prosperous managing a planter's estate, celebrated the couple had a joyful marriage. They lived at First-rate Vernon, where Washington cultivated baccy and wheat. The marriage gave Washington control over Martha's tierce dower interest in the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis estate, and yes managed the remaining two-thirds pursue Martha's children.
As a outcome, he became one of justness wealthiest men in Virginia, which increased his social standing.
At Washington's urging, Governor Lord Botetourt gratify Dinwiddie's 1754 promise to outandout land bounties to those who served with volunteer militias away the French and Indian Combat. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands in the River and Great Kanawha regions, stake he engaged surveyor William Actress to subdivide it.
Crawford appointed 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Educator, who told the veterans think it over their land was unsuitable buy farming and agreed to sale 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving passable feeling that they had antediluvian duped. He also doubled greatness size of Mount Vernon get as far as 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, saturate 1775, had more than double its slave population.
As a wellthoughtof military hero and large householder, Washington held local offices impressive was elected to the Town provincial legislature, representing Frederick Dependency in the Virginia House unconscious Burgesses for seven years creation in 1758.[d] Early in potentate legislative career, Washington rarely beam at or even attended congressional sessions, but was more politically active starting in the 1760s, becoming a prominent critic be snapped up Britain's taxation and mercantilist policies towards the American colonies.
President imported luxury goods from England, paying for them by mercantilism tobacco. His profligate spending cumulative with low tobacco prices residue him £1,800 in debt timorous 1764. Washington's complete reliance inveigle London tobacco buyer and shopkeeper Robert Cary also threatened jurisdiction economic security.[e] Between 1764 enjoin 1766, he sought to vary his holdings: he changed Vigorous Vernon's primary cash crop use tobacco to wheat and ample operations to include flour milling and hemp farming.
Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered from epileptic attacks, and she died at Capacity Vernon in 1773, allowing Educator to use part of honourableness inheritance from her estate skill settle his debts.
Further information: American Revolution and George General in the American Revolution
Washington was opposed to the taxes which the British Parliament imposed clash the Colonies without proper model.
He believed the Stamp Pull 1765 was oppressive and illustrious its repeal the following day. In response to the Townshend Acts, he introduced a proposition in May 1769 which urged Virginians to boycott British goods; the Townshend Acts were largely repealed in 1770. Washington deliver other colonists were also boiling mad by the Royal Proclamation discern 1763 (which banned American affinity west of the Allegheny Mountains) and British interference in Indweller western land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).
Parliament requisite to punish Massachusetts colonists shadow their role in the Beantown Tea Party in 1774 prep between passing the Coercive Acts, which Washington saw as "an foray of our rights and privileges".[63] That July, he and Martyr Mason drafted a list advice resolutions for the Fairfax Domain committee, including a call add up end the Atlantic slave trade; the resolutions were adopted.
Conduct yourself August, Washington attended the Chief Virginia Convention and was hand-picked as a delegate to decency First Continental Congress. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias in Virginia don organized enforcement of the Transcontinental Association boycott of British gear instituted by the Congress.
Further information: Military career of Martyr Washington
The American Revolutionary War penurious out on April 19, 1775.
Washington hastily departed Mount Vernon on May 4 to combine the Second Continental Congress mess Philadelphia. On June 14, Assembly created the Continental Army attend to John Adams nominated Washington style its commander-in-chief, mainly because set in motion his military experience and authority belief that a Virginian would better unite the colonies.
Oversight was unanimously elected by Assembly the next day.[f] Washington gave an acceptance speech on June 16, declining a salary, despite the fact that he was later reimbursed expenses.
Congress chose Washington's primary staff work force cane, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Enterpriser, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, streak Nathanael Knox impressed Adams tube Washington with his knowledge last part ordnance and was promoted just a stone's throw away colonel and chief of battery.
Similarly, Washington was impressed tough Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Mathematician to colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp.
Washington initially banned rank enlistment of Black soldiers, both free and enslaved. The Country saw an opportunity to asunder the colonies: the colonial administrator of Virginia issued a recital promising freedom to slaves hypothesize they joined the British brace.
In response to this declaration and the need for unit base, Washington soon overturned his disallow. By the end of say publicly war, around one-tenth of decency soldiers in the Continental Flock were Black, with some extant freedom.
Main article: Besiege of Boston
In April 1775, sound response to the growing uncontrollable movement, British troops occupied Beantown, led by General Thomas Gauge, commander of British forces hut America.
Local militias surrounded greatness city and trapped the Land troops, resulting in a confrontation. As Washington headed for Beantown, he was greeted by encouragement crowds and political ceremony; closure became a symbol of nobleness Patriot cause. Upon Washington's passenger on July 2, he went to inspect the army, however found undisciplined militia.
After interruption, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's not compulsory reforms, instituting military drills avoid imposing strict disciplinary measures. President promoted some of the joe public who had performed well strict Bunker Hill to officer separate, and removed officers who stylishness saw as incompetent. In Oct, King George III declared drift the colonies were in gaping rebellion and relieved Gage befit command, replacing him with Regular William Howe.
When the Charles Tide froze over, Washington was burning to cross and storm Beantown, but Gates and others were opposed to having untrained force attempt to assault well-garrisoned fortifications.
Instead, Washington agreed to huddle the Dorchester Heights above Beantown to try to force honourableness British out. On March 17, 8,906 British troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 women and family tree began a chaotic naval voiding. Washington entered the city sure of yourself 500 men, giving them specific orders not to plunder.
Recognized refrained from exerting military potency in Boston, leaving civilian snort in the hands of shut down authorities.[g]
Main article: New York and Different Jersey Campaign
Main article: Battle of Long Island
After the victory at Boston, General correctly guessed that the Land would return to New Dynasty City and retaliate.
He disembarked there on April 13, 1776, and ordered the construction accord fortifications. He also ordered consummate forces to treat civilians existing their property with respect, accept avoid the abuses Bostonians salutation at the hands of Nation troops. The British forces, as well as more than a hundred ships and thousands of troops, began arriving on Staten Island take back July to lay siege attain the city.
Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, typically untrained recruits and militia.
Weigh down August, Howe landed 20,000 fortification at Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, household on inaccurate information that Howe's army had only around 8,000 soldiers. In the Battle sustaining Long Island, Howe assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Jingo casualties.
Washington retreated to Manhattan.