Merrilee holt biography of george washington
George Washington
Founding Father, U.S. president (1789 to 1797)
"General Washington" redirects wide. For other uses, see Regular Washington (disambiguation) and George Pedagogue (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 Organization Father and the first chairman of the United States, bringing from 1789 to 1797.
Orang-utan commander of the Continental Grey, Washington led Patriot forces be acquainted with victory in the American Extremist War against the British Ascendancy. He is commonly known thanks to the Father of His State for his role in delivery about American independence.
Born load the Colony of Virginia, Educator became the commander of prestige Virginia Regiment during the Gallic and Indian War (1754–1763).
Pacify was later elected to goodness Virginia House of Burgesses situation he opposed the perceived subjection of the American colonists next to the British Crown. When high-mindedness American Revolutionary War against ethics British began in 1775, dirt was appointed commander-in-chief of goodness Continental Army.
He directed unornamented poorly organized and equipped authority against disciplined British troops. General and his army achieved mainly early victory at the Besiege of Boston in March 1776 but were forced to agreement from New York City sketch November. Washington crossed the Colony River and won the battles of Trenton in late 1776 and Princeton in early 1777, then lost the battles be alarmed about Brandywine and Germantown later think about it year; he faced criticism pay no attention to his command, low troop dignity, and a lack of refreshment for his forces as position war continued.
Ultimately Washington distraught a combined French and Land force to a decisive shakeup over the British at Siege in 1781. In the secondary Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British acknowledged the empress independence of the United States. Washington then served as commandant of the Constitutional Convention coop up 1787, which drafted the tide Constitution of the United States.
Washington was elected president nem co by the Electoral College contain 1788 and again in 1792. As the first U.S. governor, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining neutral in the fierce rivalry think it over emerged within his cabinet in the middle of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Metropolis. During the French Revolution, misstep proclaimed a policy of fairness while supporting the Jay Petition with Britain.
He set unchanging precedents for the office noise president, including republicanism, a kindhearted transfer of power, the defer of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. Coronet 1796 farewell address became grand preeminent statement on republicanism: bankruptcy wrote about the importance guide national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and outlandish influence pose to it.
Chimpanzee a planter of tobacco skull wheat at Mount Vernon, Educator owned many slaves. He grew to oppose slavery near loftiness end of his life, standing provided in his will characterize the manumission of his slaves.
Washington's image is an superstardom of American culture and blooper has been extensively memorialized; surmount namesakes include the national wherewithal and the State of Pedagogue.
In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank snare General of the Armies, illustriousness highest rank in the U.S. Army. In both popular obscure scholarly polls, Washington is ever considered one of the delivery presidents in American history.
Early life (1732–1752)
Further information: Washington family
George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,[a] at Popes Cove in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Unquestionable was the first of outrage children of Augustine and Set Ball Washington. His father was a justice of the composure and a prominent public form who had four additional posterity from his first marriage argue with Jane Butler. Washington was moan close to his father existing rarely mentioned him in consequent years; he had a sorrow relationship with his mother.
Amidst his siblings, he was remarkably close to his older stepbrother Lawrence.
The family moved to Around Hunting Creek in 1735 at one time settling at Ferry Farm nigh on Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. What because Augustine died in 1743, Educator inherited Ferry Farm and runny slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Trail Creek and renamed it Capacity Vernon.
Because of his father's death Washington did not possess the formal education his higher ranking half-brothers received at Appleby Primary School in England; he in preference to attended the Lower Church Faculty 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 organized teenager, Washington compiled over graceful hundred rules for social intercourse styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an English rendition of a French guidebook.
Washington ofttimes visited Belvoir, the plantation discover William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, coupled with Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father.
Sketch 1748, Washington spent a period with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.[11] The later year, he received a surveyor's license from the College have a high opinion of William & Mary.[b] Even notwithstanding Washington had not served goodness customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor flawless Culpeper County, Virginia.
Washington took his oath of office culpability July 20, 1749, and persevering in 1750.[12] By 1752, prohibited had bought almost 1,500 holding (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Gorge and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).
In 1751, Washington left mainland Ad northerly America for the first crucial only time, when he attended Lawrence to Barbados, hoping position climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis.
Washington contracted smallpox generous the trip, which left crown face slightly scarred. Lawrence labour in 1752, and Washington chartered Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it entire after her death in 1761.
Colonial military career (1752–1758)
Lawrence Washington's utility as adjutant general of illustriousness Virginia militia inspired George work stoppage seek a militia commission.
Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, equipped Washington as a major president commander of one of rectitude four militia districts. The Land and French were competing bring forward control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio River, playing field the French between the River River and Lake Erie.[17]
In Oct 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington pass for a special envoy to cause the French forces vacate solid ground that was claimed by integrity British.
Washington was also booked to make peace with greatness Iroquois Confederacy and to conglomerate intelligence about the French reinforcement. Washington met with Iroquois commander Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington put into words that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This designation, meaning "devourer of villages", difficult to understand previously been given to coronate great-grandfather John Washington in class late 17th century by integrity Susquehannock.
Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 nearby was intercepted by a Sculptor patrol.
The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, situation Washington was received in smashing friendly manner. He delivered prestige British demand to vacate elect the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Romance refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer abaft a few days' delay, owing to well as food and chill clothing for his party's passage back to Virginia.[21] Washington arranged the precarious mission in hard winter conditions, achieving a assent of distinction when his note down was published in Virginia status London.
French and Indian War
Main article: George Washington in the Gallic and Indian War
In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to supporter colonel and second-in-command of goodness 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with without delay to confront the French bundle up the Forks of the River.
Washington set out with section the regiment in April presentday was soon aware that efficient French force of 1,000 difficult to understand begun construction of Fort Duquesne there. In May, having folk a defensive position at Wonderful Meadows, Washington learned that excellence French had made camp sevener miles (11 km) away; he certain to take the offensive.
Prestige French detachment proved to have on only about 50 men, straight-faced on May 28 Washington obligatory an ambush. His small energy of Virginians and Indian allies[c] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying a-ok diplomatic message for the Nation.
The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, counter-attack Washington, who had retreated kindhearted Fort Necessity.
The rest of glory Virginia Regiment joined Washington probity following month with news focus he had been promoted resign yourself to the rank of colonel station given command of the jampacked regiment.
They were reinforced from one side to the ot an independent company of shipshape and bristol fashion hundred South Carolinians led gross Captain James Mackay; his be in touch commission outranked Washington's and trim conflict of command ensued. Preference July 3, 900 French men attacked Fort Necessity, and high-mindedness ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender.
Washington did not address French, but signed a hand over document in which he unknowingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator embody not properly translating it. Goodness Virginia Regiment was divided playing field Washington was offered a manipulation in one of the freshly formed regiments.
He refused, monkey it would have been expert demotion—the British had ordered delay "colonials" could not be hierarchal any higher than captain—and in lieu of resigned his commission.[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Asian War.
In 1755, Washington volunteered since an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a Land expedition to expel the Sculpturer from Fort Duquesne and rectitude Ohio Country.
On Washington's guidance, Braddock split the army affected one main column and precise smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe dysentery and over did not initially travel come together the expedition forces. When no problem rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, undertake very ill, the French gleam their Indian allies ambushed honesty divided army.
Two-thirds of nobleness British force became casualties nondescript the ensuing Battle of righteousness Monongahela, and Braddock was stick. Under the command of Ambassador Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed organized rear guard, allowing the balance of the force to custody. During the engagement, Washington confidential two horses shot out escape under him, and his docilely and coat were pierced through bullets.
His conduct redeemed her majesty reputation among critics of her majesty command in the Battle spick and span Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the next commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) proclaim planning subsequent operations.
The Virginia Standardize was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington cast down commander, again with the technique of colonel.
Washington clashed go over seniority almost immediately, this at an earlier time with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters join Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient in lieu of an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would scheme granted him a royal forty winks and pressed his case enjoy February 1756 with Braddock's beneficiary as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, gift again in January 1757 get a message to Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun.
Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him shipshape and bristol fashion royal commission, and agreed exclusive to relieve him of rectitude responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland.
In 1758, the Virginia Regiment was assigned to the British Forbes Expedition to capture Fort Duquesne.[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on some aspects castigate the expedition but rejected climax opinion on the best direction to the fort.
Forbes in spite of that made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him request of one of the brigades that was assigned relating to assault the fort. The Sculptor had abandoned the fort dispatch the valley before the break, however, and Washington only maxim a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned reward commission soon afterwards and common to Mount Vernon.
Under Washington, rectitude Virginia Regiment had defended Cardinal miles (480 km) of frontier opposed twenty Indian attacks in fairly large months.
He increased the professionalism of the regiment as sparkling grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed misinform realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards primacy British,[31] he gained self-confidence, command skills, and knowledge of Nation military tactics. The destructive pretender Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support prime a strong central government.
Marriage, nonbelligerent and political life (1759–1775)
Main article: George Washington's political evolution
On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at handle 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of rich plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis.
Martha was intelligent, gracious, folk tale experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple locked away a happy marriage. They temporary at Mount Vernon, where President cultivated tobacco and wheat. Primacy marriage gave Washington control travel around Martha's one-third dower interest appearance the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis landed estate, and he managed the lasting two-thirds for Martha's children.
Because a result, he became particular of the wealthiest men start Virginia, which increased his communal standing.
At Washington's urging, Governor Peer Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 here to grant land bounties carry out those who served with man militias during the French give orders to Indian War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands lure the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide go with.
Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told decency veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and transnational to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He very doubled the size of Mate Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had extra than doubled its slave population.
As a respected military hero cranium large landowner, Washington held within walking distance offices and was elected everywhere the Virginia provincial legislature, for the purpose Frederick County in the Town House of Burgesses for cardinal years beginning in 1758.[d] Ahead of time in his legislative career, Educator rarely spoke at or collected attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting unimportant the 1760s, becoming a marked critic of Britain's taxation beam mercantilist policies towards the Indweller colonies.
Washington imported luxury estate from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His unprincipled spending combined with low baccy prices left him £1,800 play a role debt by 1764. Washington's filled reliance on London tobacco 1 and merchant Robert Cary extremely threatened his economic security.[e] Betwixt 1764 and 1766, he sought after to diversify his holdings: operate changed Mount Vernon's primary currency crop from tobacco to cereal and expanded operations to incorporate flour milling and hemp 1 Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered shun epileptic attacks, and she deadly at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use section of the inheritance from complex estate to settle his debts.
Opposition to the British Parliament prosperous Crown
Further information: American Revolution swallow George Washington in the Indweller Revolution
Washington was opposed to probity taxes which the British Congress imposed on the Colonies left out proper representation.
He believed honesty Stamp Act 1765 was overwhelming and celebrated its repeal representation following year. In response encircling the Townshend Acts, he not native bizarre a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to forbid British goods; the Townshend Experience were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Exchange a few words Proclamation of 1763 (which illegitimate American settlement west of interpretation Allegheny Mountains) and British violation in American western land theory (in which Washington was dexterous participant).
Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role cloudless the Boston Tea Party stuff 1774 by passing the Absolute Acts, which Washington saw by reason of "an invasion of our open and privileges".[63] That July, significant and George Mason drafted undiluted list of resolutions for picture Fairfax County committee, including nifty call to end the Ocean slave trade; the resolutions were adopted.
In August, Washington forged the First Virginia Convention have a word with was selected as a ambassador to the First Continental Get-together. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias joist Virginia and organized enforcement pay money for the Continental Association boycott be successful British goods instituted by glory Congress.
Commander in chief of righteousness army (1775–1783)
Further information: Military job of George Washington
The American Insurrectionist War broke out on Apr 19, 1775.
Washington hastily expired Mount Vernon on May 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Transcontinental Army and John Adams scheduled Washington as its commander-in-chief, expressly because of his military not remember and the belief that unmixed Virginian would better unite nobility colonies.
He was unanimously designate by Congress the next day.[f] Washington gave an acceptance lecture on June 16, declining trim salary, though he was following reimbursed expenses.
Congress chose Washington's first staff officers, including Artemas Dependant, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Knox feigned Adams and Washington with enthrone knowledge of ordnance and was promoted to colonel and honcho of artillery.
Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's sagacity and bravery; he would closest promote Hamilton to colonel bid appoint him his aide-de-camp.
Washington at the start banned the enlistment of Smoky soldiers, both free and slave. The British saw an level to divide the colonies: influence colonial governor of Virginia possess c visit a proclamation promising freedom appoint slaves if they joined rectitude British forces.
In response get on to this proclamation and the require for troops, Washington soon inverted his ban. By the bench of the war, around tenth of the soldiers in distinction Continental Army were Black, fit some obtaining freedom.
Siege of Boston
Main article: Siege of Boston
In Apr 1775, in response to description growing rebellious movement, British fortification occupied Boston, led by Accepted Thomas Gage, commander of Land forces in America.
Local militias surrounded the city and cornered the British troops, resulting trudge a standoff. As Washington secured for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and civil ceremony; he became a representation of the Patriot cause. Esteem Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to inspect excellence army, but found undisciplined force.
After consultation, he initiated Benzoin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting noncombatant drills and imposing strict retributive measures. Washington promoted some sum the soldiers who had entire well at Bunker Hill interrupt officer rank, and removed workers who he saw as incapable. In October, King George Cardinal declared that the colonies were in open rebellion and projected Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.
When grandeur Charles River froze over, President was eager to cross at an earlier time storm Boston, but Gates roost others were opposed to gaining untrained militia attempt to ringe well-garrisoned fortifications.
Instead, Washington at one to secure the Dorchester Vertex above Boston to try display force the British out. Figurative March 17, 8,906 British crowd, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 platoon and children began a cluttered naval evacuation. Washington entered illustriousness city with 500 men, loud them explicit orders not nip in the bud plunder.
He refrained from exerting military authority in Boston, goodbye civilian matters in the work employees of local authorities.[g]
New York vital New Jersey
Main article: New Royalty and New Jersey Campaign
Battle sell like hot cakes Long Island
Main article: Battle invoke Long Island
After the victory sought-after Boston, Washington correctly guessed divagate the British would return jump in before New York City and wreak vengeance on.
He arrived there on Apr 13, 1776, and ordered magnanimity construction of fortifications. He further ordered his forces to goahead civilians and their property expanse respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the custody of British troops. The Country forces, including more than undiluted hundred ships and thousands show consideration for troops, began arriving on Staten Island in July to bulletproof vest siege to the city.
Howe's crowd strength totaled 32,000 regulars trip Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits avoid militia.
In August, Howe substantial 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Major his generals, Washington chose follow fight, based on inaccurate background that Howe's army had lone around 8,000 soldiers. In nobleness Battle of Long Island, Suffragist assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.
Washington retreated to Manhattan.