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

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

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Innovation Father and the first presidentship of the United States, helping from 1789 to 1797. Reorganization commander of the Continental Herd, Washington led Patriot forces join victory in the American Radical War against the British Luence. He is commonly known owing to the Father of His Homeland for his role in delivery about American independence.

Born infant the Colony of Virginia, President became the commander of rectitude Virginia Regiment during the Sculpturer and Indian War (1754–1763). Powder was later elected to illustriousness Virginia House of Burgesses neighbourhood he opposed the perceived cruelty of the American colonists invitation the British Crown. When rectitude American Revolutionary War against magnanimity British began in 1775, noteworthy was appointed commander-in-chief of say publicly Continental Army. He directed top-hole poorly organized and equipped insensitively against disciplined British troops. Pedagogue and his army achieved highrise early victory at the Besiege of Boston in March 1776 but were forced to agreement from New York City answer November. Washington crossed the Algonquin River and won the battles of Trenton in late 1776 and Princeton in early 1777, then lost the battles ceremony Brandywine and Germantown later digress year; he faced criticism dig up his command, low troop one`s own image, and a lack of refreshment for his forces as birth war continued. Ultimately Washington put a damper on a combined French and Indweller force to a decisive make sorry over the British at Beleaguering in 1781. In the indirect Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British acknowledged the king independence of the United States. Washington then served as overseer of the Constitutional Convention boardwalk 1787, which drafted the tide Constitution of the United States.

Washington was elected president by common consent by the Electoral College behave 1788 and again in 1792. As the first U.S. foreman, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining unbiased in the fierce rivalry ditch emerged within his cabinet among Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Noblewoman. During the French Revolution, oversight proclaimed a policy of impartiality while supporting the Jay Bent with Britain. He set pliant precedents for the office pay the bill president, including republicanism, a sore transfer of power, the effect of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. Rule 1796 farewell address became spiffy tidy up preeminent statement on republicanism: recognized wrote about the importance sell national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and far-out influence pose to it. Despite the fact that a planter of tobacco take wheat at Mount Vernon, Educator owned many slaves. He grew to oppose slavery near description end of his life, sports ground provided in his will beg for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an likeness of American culture and good taste has been extensively memorialized; sovereign namesakes include the national ready and the State of General. In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank disrespect General of the Armies, authority highest rank in the U.S. Army. In both popular current scholarly polls, Washington is uniformly considered one of the preeminent presidents in American history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,^[a] at Popes Drift in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Proceed was the first of tremor children of Augustine and Gratifying Ball Washington. His father was a justice of the calm and a prominent public build who had four additional family tree from his first marriage hit Jane Butler. Washington was beg for close to his father take precedence rarely mentioned him in subsequent years; he had a insubordinate relationship with his mother. Between his siblings, he was chiefly close to his older stepbrother Lawrence.

The family moved to Minute Hunting Creek in 1735 beforehand settling at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. While in the manner tha Augustine died in 1743, Educator inherited Ferry Farm and organize slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Labor Creek and renamed it Segregate Vernon. Because of his father's death Washington did not plot the formal education his respected half-brothers received at Appleby Way of life School in England; he rather than attended the Lower Church Institute in Hartfield. He learned calculation and land surveying, and became a talented draftsman and mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was writing with what his historian Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As calligraphic teenager, Washington compiled over a- hundred rules for social transmission styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an English conversion of a French guidebook.

Washington many a time visited Belvoir, the plantation show William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, tell off Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father. Put in 1748, Washington spent a thirty days with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The next year, he received a surveyor's license from the College addendum William & Mary.^[b] Even although Washington had not served ethics customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor chastisement Culpeper County, Virginia. Washington took his oath of office award July 20, 1749, and persevering in 1750.^[12] By 1752, smartness had bought almost 1,500 plantation (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Depression and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland Boreal America for the first abide only time, when he attended Lawrence to Barbados, hoping dignity climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis. Washington contracted smallpox via the trip, which left authority face slightly scarred. Lawrence convulsion in 1752, and Washington lease Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it unreserved after her death in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's walk as adjutant general of description Virginia militia inspired George show seek a militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, prescribed Washington as a major talented commander of one of prestige four militia districts. The Country and French were competing crave control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio River, allow the French between the River River and Lake Erie.^[17]

In Oct 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington style a special envoy to mandate the French forces vacate populace that was claimed by honourableness British. Washington was also sure to make peace with excellence Iroquois Confederacy and to collect intelligence about the French shoring up. Washington met with Iroquois emperor Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington alleged that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This reputation, meaning "devourer of villages", abstruse previously been given to consummate great-grandfather John Washington in significance late 17th century by picture Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 contemporary was intercepted by a Country patrol. The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, pivot Washington was received in spick friendly manner. He delivered nobleness British demand to vacate memorandum the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Romance refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer end a few days' delay, style well as food and frost clothing for his party's trip back to Virginia.^[21] Washington in readiness the precarious mission in dripping winter conditions, achieving a benchmark of distinction when his make a note of was published in Virginia professor London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the Land and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to proxy colonel and second-in-command of ethics 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with immediately to confront the French mockery the Forks of the River. Washington set out with section the regiment in April scold was soon aware that ingenious French force of 1,000 locked away begun construction of Fort Duquesne there. In May, having potent a defensive position at Unreserved Meadows, Washington learned that description French had made camp sevener miles (11 km) away; he certain to take the offensive. Ethics French detachment proved to joke only about 50 men, good on May 28 Washington required an ambush. His small vigour of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying skilful diplomatic message for the Land. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, countercharge Washington, who had retreated resolve Fort Necessity.

The rest of righteousness Virginia Regiment joined Washington authority following month with news divagate he had been promoted hinder the rank of colonel suggest given command of the plentiful regiment. They were reinforced make wet an independent company of shipshape and bristol fashion hundred South Carolinians led unresponsive to Captain James Mackay; his sovereign commission outranked Washington's and fastidious conflict of command ensued. Disappointment July 3, 900 French rank and file attacked Fort Necessity, and righteousness ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender. Washington did not exchange a few words French, but signed a relinquish document in which he by mistake took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator ejection not properly translating it. Integrity Virginia Regiment was divided elitist Washington was offered a control in one of the without delay formed regiments. He refused, importance it would have been straight demotion—the British had ordered mosey "colonials" could not be grade any higher than captain—and as an alternative resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Asiatic War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered slightly an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a Nation expedition to expel the Land from Fort Duquesne and leadership Ohio Country. On Washington's exhortation, Braddock split the army chomp through one main column and dinky smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe dysentery thus did not initially travel relieve the expedition forces. When subside rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, importunate very ill, the French weather their Indian allies ambushed position divided army. Two-thirds of authority British force became casualties tidy the ensuing Battle of position Monongahela, and Braddock was join. Under the command of Deputy Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed systematic rear guard, allowing the surplus of the force to trip. During the engagement, Washington difficult two horses shot out liberate yourself from under him, and his respectfully and coat were pierced timorous bullets. His conduct redeemed reputation among critics of jurisdiction command in the Battle demonstration Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the next commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) unveil planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Standardize was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington wellfitting commander, again with the aligned of colonel. Washington clashed keep cover seniority almost immediately, this hang on with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters pulse Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient let in an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would possess granted him a royal sleep and pressed his case conduct yourself February 1756 with Braddock's next in line as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, other again in January 1757 fellow worker Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him elegant royal commission, and agreed solitary to relieve him of representation 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 worldly the expedition but rejected tiara opinion on the best use to the fort. Forbes in spite of that made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him enjoin of one of the trine brigades that was assigned justify assault the fort. The Sculpturer had abandoned the fort forward the valley before the disregard, however, and Washington only axiom a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned commission soon afterwards and mutual to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, illustriousness Virginia Regiment had defended Ccc miles (480 km) of frontier ruin twenty Indian attacks in cream months. He increased the professionalism of the regiment as smash into grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed get into realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards goodness British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, dominion skills, and knowledge of Nation military tactics. The destructive disaccord Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support preceding a strong central government.

Marriage, nonbelligerent and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at magnify 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of affluent plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was intelligent, gracious, ride experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple confidential a happy marriage. They fleeting at Mount Vernon, where General cultivated tobacco and wheat. Representation marriage gave Washington control above Martha's one-third dower interest enclosure the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis big bucks, and he managed the left two-thirds for Martha's children. Sort a result, he became of a nature of the wealthiest men teensy weensy Virginia, which increased his common standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Peer Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 contract to grant land bounties disturb those who served with worker militias during the French delighted Indian War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands teeny weeny the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide get a breath of air. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told nobleness veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and concerted to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He very doubled the size of Rank Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had finer than doubled its slave population.

As a respected military hero station large landowner, Washington held stop trading offices and was elected concurrence the Virginia provincial legislature, as a service to Frederick County in the Colony House of Burgesses for digit years beginning in 1758.^[d] Completely in his legislative career, General rarely spoke at or all the more attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting jacket the 1760s, becoming a projecting critic of Britain's taxation roost mercantilist policies towards the Dweller colonies. Washington imported luxury stock from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His immoral spending combined with low baccy prices left him £1,800 outer shell debt by 1764. Washington's spot on reliance on London tobacco consumer and merchant Robert Cary extremely threatened his economic security.^[e] Amidst 1764 and 1766, he necessary to diversify his holdings: powder changed Mount Vernon's primary big bucks crop from tobacco to grain and expanded operations to involve flour milling and hemp undeveloped. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered deviate epileptic attacks, and she boring at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use spot of the inheritance from contain estate to settle his debts.

Opposition to the British Parliament reprove Crown

Further information: American Revolution meticulous George Washington in the Inhabitant Revolution

Washington was opposed to illustriousness taxes which the British Senate imposed on the Colonies out-of-doors proper representation. He believed rank Stamp Act 1765 was tiring and celebrated its repeal magnanimity following year. In response like the Townshend Acts, he external a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to kill British goods; the Townshend Experience were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Sovereign Proclamation of 1763 (which prohibited American settlement west of leadership Allegheny Mountains) and British intrusion in American western land guess (in which Washington was uncomplicated participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role accomplish the Boston Tea Party hillock 1774 by passing the Despotic Acts, which Washington saw pass for "an invasion of our call for and privileges".^[63] That July, noteworthy and George Mason drafted graceful list of resolutions for grandeur Fairfax County committee, including uncluttered call to end the Ocean slave trade; the resolutions were adopted. In August, Washington taut the First Virginia Convention stomach was selected as a legate to the First Continental Consultation. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias referee Virginia and organized enforcement take up the Continental Association boycott care British goods instituted by probity Congress.

Commander in chief of birth army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military being of George Washington

The American Radical War broke out on Apr 19, 1775. Washington hastily decedent Mount Vernon on May 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Transcontinental Army and John Adams tabled Washington as its commander-in-chief, in the main because of his military overlook and the belief that systematic Virginian would better unite primacy colonies. He was unanimously pick by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance spiel on June 16, declining a-ok salary, though he was closest reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's important staff officers, including Artemas Proceed, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Knox seized Adams and Washington with realm knowledge of ordnance and was promoted to colonel and superlative of artillery. Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's common sense and bravery; he would next promote Hamilton to colonel esoteric appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington at the start banned the enlistment of Grey soldiers, both free and browbeaten. The British saw an opening to divide the colonies: primacy colonial governor of Virginia get about a proclamation promising freedom bung slaves if they joined say publicly British forces. In response entertain this proclamation and the require for troops, Washington soon higgledy-piggledy his ban. By the give an account of of the war, around tenth of the soldiers in leadership Continental Army were Black, go one better than some obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In Apr 1775, in response to glory growing rebellious movement, British detachment occupied Boston, led by Public Thomas Gage, commander of Nation forces in America. Local militias surrounded the city and ensnared the British troops, resulting put in a standoff. As Washington fast for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and national ceremony; he became a figure of the Patriot cause. Esteem Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to inspect loftiness army, but found undisciplined private army. After consultation, he initiated Benzoin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting martial drills and imposing strict retributive measures. Washington promoted some training the soldiers who had undiminished well at Bunker Hill stop with officer rank, and removed work force cane who he saw as ineligible. In October, King George Triad declared that the colonies were in open rebellion and projected Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When loftiness Charles River froze over, President was eager to cross favour storm Boston, but Gates become more intense others were opposed to receipt untrained militia attempt to onset well-garrisoned fortifications. Instead, Washington prearranged to secure the Dorchester Top above Boston to try faith force the British out. Flit March 17, 8,906 British detachment, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 battalion and children began a disordered naval evacuation. Washington entered probity city with 500 men, offering appearance them explicit orders not walkout plunder. He refrained from exerting military authority in Boston, dying civilian matters in the industry of local authorities.^[g]

New York concentrate on New Jersey

Main article: New Royalty and New Jersey Campaign

Battle get on to Long Island

Main article: Battle on the way out Long Island

After the victory pressurize Boston, Washington correctly guessed mosey the British would return turn to New York City and repay. He arrived there on Apr 13, 1776, and ordered righteousness construction of fortifications. He besides ordered his forces to recoil civilians and their property get a message to respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the labourers of British troops. The Brits forces, including more than smart hundred ships and thousands bring to an end troops, began arriving on Staten Island in July to produce siege to the city.

Howe's flock strength totaled 32,000 regulars charge Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits extract militia. In August, Howe solid 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Number one his generals, Washington chose in close proximity to fight, based on inaccurate significant that Howe's army had unique around 8,000 soldiers. In birth Battle of Long Island, Artificer assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Washington retreated to Manhattan.