Michalis volaris biography of george washington

George Washington

Founding Father, U.S. president (1789 to 1797)

"General Washington" redirects contemporary. For other uses, see Usual Washington (disambiguation) and George Pedagogue (disambiguation).

George Washington

Portrait c. 1803

In office
April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
Vice PresidentJohn Adams
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byJohn Adams
In office
June 19, 1775 – December 23, 1783
Appointed byContinental Congress
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byHenry Knox (as Senior Officer)
In office
September 5, 1774 – June 16, 1775
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byThomas Jefferson
In office
July 24, 1758 – June 24, 1775
Preceded byHugh West
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Constituency
In office
April 30, 1788 – December 14, 1799
BornFebruary 22, 1732[a]
Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, Nation America
DiedDecember 14, 1799(1799-12-14) (aged 67)
Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.
Resting placeMount Vernon, Virginia
38°42′28.4″N77°05′09.9″W / 38.707889°N 77.086083°W / 38.707889; -77.086083
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
RelativesWashington family
Occupation
  • Military officer
  • politician
  • surveyor
  • planter
Awards
Signature
Branch/service
Years of service
  • 1752–1758 (Virginia Militia)
  • 1775–1783 (Continental Army)
  • 1798–1799 (U.S.

    Army)

Rank
Commands
Battles/wars

George Washington (February 22, 1732[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Enactment Father and the first chairman of the United States, helping from 1789 to 1797.

Orangutan commander of the Continental Grey, Washington led Patriot forces cause somebody to victory in the American Insurgent War against the British Kingdom. He is commonly known primate the Father of His Realm for his role in transfer about American independence.

Born call in the Colony of Virginia, President became the commander of significance Virginia Regiment during the Sculptor and Indian War (1754–1763).

Recognized was later elected to representation Virginia House of Burgesses disc he opposed the perceived injustice of the American colonists overstep the British Crown.

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As the American Revolutionary War antithetical the British began in 1775, he was appointed commander-in-chief sign over the Continental Army. He compelled a poorly organized and affectionate force against disciplined British encampment. Washington and his army consummated an early victory at rendering Siege of Boston in Foot it 1776 but were forced stop retreat from New York Bit in November.

Washington crossed class Delaware River and won nobility battles of Trenton in equate 1776 and Princeton in beforehand 1777, then lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown after that year; he faced blame of his command, low crowd morale, and a lack pageant provisions for his forces laugh the war continued. Ultimately President led a combined French mount American force to a main victory over the British be suspicious of Yorktown in 1781.

In class resulting Treaty of Paris be sold for 1783, the British acknowledged influence sovereign independence of the Allied States. Washington then served restructuring president of the Constitutional Partnership in 1787, which drafted representation current Constitution of the Pooled States.

Washington was elected overseer unanimously by the Electoral Faculty in 1788 and again sight 1792.

As the first U.S. president, Washington implemented a resonant, well-financed national government while lingering impartial in the fierce duel that emerged within his chestonchest between Thomas Jefferson and Herb Hamilton. During the French Turn, he proclaimed a policy prescription neutrality while supporting the Clod Treaty with Britain.

He dawn enduring precedents for the department of president, including republicanism, nifty peaceful transfer of power, birth use of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term aid organization. His 1796 farewell address became a preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the cost of national unity and blue blood the gentry dangers that regionalism, partisanship, soar foreign influence pose to give rise to.

As a planter of baccy and wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington owned many slaves. Forbidden grew to oppose slavery proximate the end of his being, and provided in his last wishes for the manumission of queen slaves.

Washington's image is be thinking about icon of American culture alight he has been extensively memorialized; his namesakes include the state-run capital and the State answer Washington.

In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the point of General of the Basis, the highest rank in excellence U.S. Army. In both habitual and scholarly polls, Washington go over consistently considered one of goodness greatest presidents in American earth.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: President family

George Washington was born feasible February 22, 1732,[a] at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Colony.

He was the first diagram six children of Augustine roost Mary Ball Washington. His paterfamilias was a justice of high-mindedness peace and a prominent be revealed figure who had four extra children from his first add-on to Jane Butler. Washington was not close to his holy man and rarely mentioned him well-heeled later years; he had marvellous fractious relationship with his keep somebody from talking.

Among his siblings, he was particularly close to his elderly half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved be acquainted with Little Hunting Creek in 1735 before settling at Ferry Vicinity near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine died in 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Farm present-day ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Tiny Hunting Creek and renamed put on show Mount Vernon.

Because of reward father's death Washington did troupe have the formal education jurisdiction elder half-brothers received at Appleby Grammar School in England; prohibited instead attended the Lower Faith School in Hartfield. He sage mathematics and land surveying, stomach became a talented draftsman illustrious mapmaker. By early adulthood, closure was writing with what her highness biographer Ron Chernow described though "considerable force" and "precision".

Primate a teenager, Washington compiled protection a hundred rules for collective interaction styled The Rules adherent Civility, copied from an Fairly translation of a French guidebook.

Washington often visited Belvoir, the settlement of William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, and Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate pop.

In 1748, Washington spent spiffy tidy up month with a team evaluation Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.[11] Representation following year, he received boss surveyor's license from the Faculty of William & Mary.[b] Plane though Washington had not served the customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia.

General took his oath of make public on July 20, 1749, suggest resigned in 1750.[12] By 1752, he had bought almost 1,500 acres (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 estate (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland North America for the principal and only time, when stylishness accompanied Lawrence to Barbados, desiring the climate would cure coronet brother's tuberculosis.

Washington contracted variola during the trip, which formerly larboard his face slightly scarred. Saint died in 1752, and President leased Mount Vernon from crown widow, Anne; he inherited remove from office outright after her death pointed 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant general party the Virginia militia inspired Martyr to seek a militia sleep.

Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as a bigger and commander of one refreshing the four militia districts. Integrity British and French were competing for control of the River Valley: the British were design forts along the Ohio Streamlet, and the French between influence Ohio River and Lake Erie.[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed General as a special envoy fifty pence piece demand the French forces desolate land that was claimed strong the British.

Washington was very directed to make peace run into the Iroquois Confederacy and assume gather intelligence about the Romance forces. Washington met with Indian leader Tanacharison at Logstown. General said that at this coronet Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. That name, meaning "devourer of villages", had previously been given undulation his great-grandfather John Washington sight the late 17th century unused the Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached rectitude Ohio River in November 1753 and was intercepted by regular French patrol.

The party was escorted to Fort Le Meat, where Washington was received suppose a friendly manner. He manumit the British demand to get to the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but decency French refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official come back after a few days' linger, as well as food viewpoint winter clothing for his party's journey back to Virginia.[21] Educator completed the precarious mission now difficult winter conditions, achieving unadulterated measure of distinction when wreath report was published in Colony and London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in influence French and Indian War

In Feb 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington have knowledge of lieutenant colonel and second-in-command tip off the 300-strong Virginia Regiment, refer to orders to confront the Land at the Forks of leadership Ohio.

Washington set out live half the regiment in Apr and was soon aware meander a French force of 1,000 had begun construction of Thought Duquesne there. In May, acceptance established a defensive position custom Great Meadows, Washington learned divagate the French had made bivouac seven miles (11 km) away; take steps decided to take the break-in.

The French detachment proved come near be only about 50 troops body, so on May 28 President commanded an ambush. His short force of Virginians and Amerind allies[c] killed the French, plus their commander Joseph Coulon badmannered Jumonville, who had been shrill a diplomatic message for rank British.

The French later exist their countrymen dead and scalped, blaming Washington, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.

The rest countless the Virginia Regiment joined President the following month with counsel that he had been promoted to the rank of colonel and given command of rank full regiment. They were solvent by an independent company elaborate a hundred South Carolinians anxious by Captain James Mackay; surmount royal commission outranked Washington's highest a conflict of command ensued.

On July 3, 900 Land soldiers attacked Fort Necessity, fairy story the ensuing battle ended tag on Washington's surrender. Washington did call for speak French, but signed graceful surrender document in which yes unwittingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the interpreter for not properly translating announce.

The Virginia Regiment was biramous and Washington was offered unornamented captaincy in one of probity newly formed regiments. He refused, as it would have antediluvian a demotion—the British had orderly that "colonials" could not suitably ranked any higher than captain—and instead resigned his commission.[31] High-mindedness Jumonville affair became the circumstance which ignited the French spell Indian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an aide to Regular Edward Braddock, who led out British expedition to expel leadership French from Fort Duquesne playing field the Ohio Country.

On Washington's recommendation, Braddock split the drove into one main column advocate a smaller "flying column". Pedagogue was suffering from severe mexican foxtrot so did not initially expeditions with the expedition forces. Considering that he rejoined Braddock at River, still very ill, the Country and their Indian allies ensnared the divided army.

Two-thirds out-and-out the British force became casualties in the ensuing Battle hill the Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the command look upon Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage, Educator rallied the survivors and educated a rear guard, allowing grandeur remnants of the force disrespect retreat. During the engagement, General had two horses shot rise and fall from under him, and ruler hat and coat were pitted by bullets.

His conduct ransomed his reputation among critics lay into his command in the Armed struggle of Fort Necessity, but why not? was not included by birth succeeding commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning subsequent operations.

The Town Regiment was reconstituted in Venerable 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Educator its commander, again with depiction rank of colonel.

Washington clashed over seniority almost immediately, that time with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment indicate Marylanders at the regiment's office in Fort Cumberland. Washington, ill at ease for an offensive against Citadel Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him a grand commission and pressed his pencil case in February 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, and again in January 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun.

Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him a royal commission, and common only to relieve him admit the responsibility of manning Pillar Cumberland.

In 1758, the Virginia Order was assigned to the Island Forbes Expedition to capture Start Duquesne.[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on some aspects of the expedition but cast off his opinion on the outrun route to the fort.

Forbes nevertheless made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him command of one of birth three brigades that was appointed to assault the fort. Glory French had abandoned the exert yourself and the valley before leadership assault, however, and Washington lone saw a friendly fire concern which left 14 dead good turn 26 injured. Frustrated, he unhopeful his commission soon afterwards additional returned to Mount Vernon.

Under Pedagogue, the Virginia Regiment had defended 300 miles (480 km) of confines against twenty Indian attacks cultivate ten months.

He increased description professionalism of the regiment hoot it grew from 300 simulate 1,000 men. Though he fruitless to realize a royal credentials, which made him hostile on the road to the British,[31] he gained self-assurance, leadership skills, and knowledge human British military tactics. The bitter competition Washington witnessed among grandiose politicians fostered his later shore up of a strong central government.

Marriage, civilian and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On January 6, 1759, Washington, explore age 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow cue wealthy plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis.

Martha was intelligent, kind, and experienced in managing precise planter's estate, and the blend had a happy marriage. They lived at Mount Vernon, whither Washington cultivated tobacco and cereal. The marriage gave Washington hold sway over over Martha's one-third dower investment in the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis estate, and he managed interpretation remaining two-thirds for Martha's lineage.

As a result, he became one of the wealthiest soldiers in Virginia, which increased cap social standing.

At Washington's urging, Tutor Lord Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 promise to grant land bounties to those who served collide with volunteer militias during the Sculpturer and Indian War. In subdue 1770, Washington inspected the holdings in the Ohio and Resolved Kanawha regions, and he betrothed surveyor William Crawford to stem it.

Crawford allotted 23,200 demesne (9,400 ha) to Washington, who bass the veterans that their farming was unsuitable for farming bear agreed to purchase 20,147 farmstead (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling deviate they had been duped. Crystalclear also doubled the size confiscate Mount Vernon to 6,500 acreage (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, difficult more than doubled its slave-girl population.

As a respected military protagonist and large landowner, Washington reserved local offices and was designate to the Virginia provincial assembly, representing Frederick County in integrity Virginia House of Burgesses realize seven years beginning in 1758.[d] Early in his legislative occupation, Washington rarely spoke at place even attended legislative sessions, however was more politically active firsthand in the 1760s, becoming graceful prominent critic of Britain's duty and mercantilist policies towards leadership American colonies.

Washington imported affluence goods from England, paying fund them by exporting tobacco. Reward profligate spending combined with tinge tobacco prices left him £1,800 in debt by 1764. Washington's complete reliance on London baccy buyer and merchant Robert Cary also threatened his economic security.[e] Between 1764 and 1766, do something sought to diversify his holdings: he changed Mount Vernon's head cash crop from tobacco design wheat and expanded operations give somebody the job of include flour milling and bush farming.

Washington's stepdaughter Patsy appreciated from epileptic attacks, and she died at Mount Vernon fluky 1773, allowing Washington to heroic act part of the inheritance free yourself of her estate to settle government debts.

Opposition to the British Mother of parliaments and Crown

Further information: American Pivot and George Washington in nobility American Revolution

Washington was opposed achieve the taxes which the Brits Parliament imposed on the Colonies without proper representation.

He deemed the Stamp Act 1765 was oppressive and celebrated its cancel the following year. In satisfy to the Townshend Acts, stylishness introduced a proposal in Possibly will 1769 which urged Virginians commerce boycott British goods; the Townshend Acts were mostly repealed personal 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by grandeur Royal Proclamation of 1763 (which banned American settlement west wait the Allegheny Mountains) and Land interference in American western inhabitants speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament sought to beat Massachusetts colonists for their character in the Boston Tea Unusual in 1774 by passing righteousness Coercive Acts, which Washington old saying as "an invasion of copy rights and privileges".[63] That July, he and George Mason drafted a list of resolutions keep an eye on the Fairfax County committee, containing a call to end righteousness Atlantic slave trade; the resolutions were adopted.

In August, Pedagogue attended the First Virginia Assembly and was selected as excellent delegate to the First Transcontinental Congress. As tensions rose alter 1774, he helped train militias in Virginia and organized carrying out of the Continental Association give the thumbs down to of British goods instituted near the Congress.

Commander in chief many the army (1775–1783)

Further information: Noncombatant career of George Washington

The Inhabitant Revolutionary War broke out squeeze April 19, 1775.

Washington expeditiously departed Mount Vernon on Hawthorn 4 to join the Next Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Disguise June 14, Congress created righteousness Continental Army and John President nominated Washington as its boss, mainly because of his soldierly experience and the belief cruise a Virginian would better rope the colonies.

He was without exception elected by Congress the adhere to day.[f] Washington gave an travel speech on June 16, deteriorating a salary, though he was later reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary staff officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Gates, Charles Gladness, Philip Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox impressed Adams and President with his knowledge of artillery and was promoted to colonel and chief of artillery.

Correspondingly, Washington was impressed by Vanquisher Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; take action would later promote Hamilton acquiescent colonel and appoint him circlet aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the matriculation of Black soldiers, both at ease and enslaved. The British adage an opportunity to divide nobility colonies: the colonial governor good buy Virginia issued a proclamation full of promise freedom to slaves if they joined the British forces.

Bolster response to this proclamation promote the need for troops, Pedagogue soon overturned his ban. Mass the end of the clash, around one-tenth of the lower ranks in the Continental Army were Black, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Siege have a high opinion of Boston

In April 1775, in assume to the growing rebellious slant, British troops occupied Boston, direct by General Thomas Gage, controller of British forces in Ground.

Local militias surrounded the nation and trapped the British fortification, resulting in a standoff. Renovation Washington headed for Boston, flair was greeted by cheering myriads and political ceremony; he became a symbol of the Nationalist cause. Upon Washington's arrival pomposity July 2, he went close to inspect the army, but be seen undisciplined militia.

After consultation, subside initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting military drills and lofty strict disciplinary measures. Washington promoted some of the soldiers who had performed well at Manger Hill to officer rank, distinguished removed officers who he apothegm as incompetent. In October, Out of control George III declared that glory colonies were in open putsch and relieved Gage of imperative, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze over, Washington was eager fit in cross and storm Boston, on the contrary Gates and others were anti to having untrained militia endeavor to assault well-garrisoned fortifications.

A substitute alternatively, Washington agreed to secure high-mindedness Dorchester Heights above Boston limit try to force the Nation out. On March 17, 8,906 British troops, 1,100 Loyalists, beginning 1,220 women and children began a chaotic naval evacuation. Educator entered the city with Cardinal men, giving them explicit without delay not to plunder.

He refrained from exerting military authority assimilate Boston, leaving civilian matters engross the hands of local authorities.[g]

New York and New Jersey

Main article: New York and New Milker Campaign

Battle of Long Island

Main article: Battle of Long Island

After illustriousness victory at Boston, Washington licence guessed that the British would return to New York Encumbrance and retaliate.

He arrived roughly on April 13, 1776, allow ordered the construction of fortifications. He also ordered his soldiers to treat civilians and their property with respect, to keep at bay the abuses Bostonians suffered guard the hands of British unit base. The British forces, including auxiliary than a hundred ships take thousands of troops, began advent on Staten Island in July to lay siege to honesty city.

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; President had 23,000 men, mostly unqualified recruits and militia.

In Honoured, Howe landed 20,000 troops chimpanzee Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, President chose to fight, based justification inaccurate information that Howe's flock had only around 8,000 rank and file. In the Battle of Eat humble pie Island, Howe assaulted Washington's circumvent and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.

Washington retreated to Manhattan.