Born: February 22,1732
Died: December 14, 1799 Place of Birth: Westmoreland County, Virginia
Major Notes:
George Washington is considered by many as being "The Father of His Country".
Washington's family was blessed by being relatively well off financially as his father had inherited plantation lands in Virginia.
His education, which was for the most part provided by his father and an older brother Lawrence, tended to be cultural and practical oriented.
Washington's father, however, died when Washington was only 11 and Lawrence inherited most of the father's land holdings.
Washington's education tended to be mathematics centered and this led him at age 16 to enter surveying as a profession.
He gained much experience and education completing survey work for Sir Thomas Fairfax and developed an appreciation of western land expansion.
When Washington was 20, Lawrence and his daughter, who was the heir of Lawrence's property, died two months apart and George Washington thus inherited one of Virginia's best estates.
Around the same time, he was appointed to the rank of Major in the Virginia militia and began a military career.
The English had made 13 settlements along the Atlantic coast and were claiming all lands west of the settlements.
However, the French had done exploratory work along the Mississippi and had become friends of the Indians along the way.
In 1753, Washington was given the task to lead a group to the French and inform them they should not encroach on Ohio Valley Lands.
The French officers resisted the idea and told Washington they intended to take control of the Ohio area; a region also claimed by Virginia.
The trip going and coming was full of hardships but Washington returned successfully and had the news relayed to the British.
For his efforts, Washington was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Virginia troops.
He set about raising more troops and in 1754 was given the task of removing the French troops and Indians from Ohio.
Washington set up a fort along the way at Great Meadows and soon was in his first battle against the French.
The Virginians won this first battle but the French regrouped and returned with a much larger force and captured the fort.
Washington signed a treaty with the French promising not to return for at least 12 months and the French let Washington and his troops return to Virginia.
This conflict began what was called The French and Indian War and the British sent larger forces of troops to battle the French.
In 1755, Washington organized the First Virginia Regiment which saw service throughout the war helping the British take control from the French.
Washington resigned from the military in 1758 and soon after married Martha Custis and the couple and children took residence in Mount Vernon.
At this point he was elected as a member of the House of Burgesses of Virginia and began a long political chapter in his life.
By 1763, the war was over and the British had defeated the French both in Ohio and in Canada.
George Washington looked after his land holdings, worked as a shrewd businessman, and lived as a country gentleman.
However Washington and many others were becoming resentful of King George III and the way he was treating people living in the 13 colonies.
The people were forced to follow oppressive laws and pay taxes mainly to benefit King George and the British.
In 1774, a special meeting of colonial delegates, now known as the First Continental Congress of America, was held and a report was sent to King Geoge
outlining the problems faced by the colonists.
King George ignored the plea from the colonists and this started a series of events which put the British at war with the colonies.
On July 4, 1776, at the Second Continental Congress, the colonies declared the founding of the United States of America.
In looking for a leader, the people turned to George Washington as he had proved himself not only as a military leader in Virginia but had gained a positive politcal image over the years.
Washington became the commander of the Continental Army and eventually led the combined forces of France and the then United States against Britain in the War of Independence.
He commanded the troops in various battles over the British and earned his reputation as an intelligent and savvy leader.
George Washington was elected the first President of the United States on April 5, 1789 by a unanimous 69 out of 69 votes.
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