George Washington: Life, Presidency, Accomplishments, & Facts

Introduction

• Known as the "Father of His Country"
• First President of the United States
• Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution
• Presided over the convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution
• Appears on the U.S. dollar bill and the quarter

Early Life

• Born: February 22, 1732, Westmoreland County, Virginia
• Died: December 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, Virginia
• Son of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball
• Paternal lineage had some distinction but fortunes fell after the Puritan revolution in England
• Became ward of his half-brother, Lawrence Washington, after his father's death

Education

• Attended school irregularly
• Studied practical mathematics, geography, some Latin, and English classics
• Mastered surveying and farming early in life

Early Military Career

• Appointed as adjutant for the southern district of Virginia in 1752
• Led an expedition to the Ohio Valley in 1753 to warn the French against encroachment
• Participated in the French and Indian War; promoted to colonel and later commander of Virginia troops
• Served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Edward Braddock during the campaign against Fort Duquesne
• Resigned from military service in 1758

Plantation Life and Marriage

• Inherited the Mount Vernon estate from his half-brother Lawrence
• Married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow
• Managed the estate, which expanded over 8,000 acres
• Engaged in scientific farming and managed a large number of enslaved people

Revolutionary Leadership

• Appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1775
• Known for leadership in battles such as the Siege of Boston, Battle of Trenton, and Battle of Yorktown

Presidency (1789-1797)

• Elected unanimously as the first U.S. president
• Established many protocols for the new government
• Promoted policies that aimed to stabilize the nation's economy

Post-Presidential Life

• Retired to Mount Vernon in 1797
• Involved in agricultural improvements and other interests

Legacy

• Washington's leadership during the nation's founding was pivotal
• His example set many precedents for future presidents
• Although he owned slaves, he expressed a desire for the eventual abolition of slavery and freed his enslaved people in his will

Additional Facts

• Washington's face is on the U.S. dollar bill and quarter
• His life is surrounded by numerous legends, some apocryphal like the cherry tree myth
• The U.S. capital and many other places are named in his honor