George Washington
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George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799) wasfirst President underConstitution ofUnited StatesAmericais recognized by Americans as "The Fatherour Country." (The earliest known imagewhich Washingtonidentified as suchoncover ofcirca 1778 Pennsylvania German almanac, Lancaster: Gedruckt bey Francis Bailey. This identifies Washington as "Landes Vater" or Father ofLand.)
George Washington's birthdaycelebrated on February 22 usingGregorian calendar, but underJulian calendar, which wasuse throughout Britainits colonies attimehis birth, he was born on February 11.
Career
Washington was part ofeconomiccultural elite ofslave owning plantersVirginia. His parents Augustine Washington (1693 - April 12, 1743)Mary Ball (1708 - August 25, 1789) wereEnglish descent. Asyouth, he was trained assurveyorhelped surveyShenandoah ValleyVirginia.
FrenchIndian War
Washington was commissioned1754 as an Colonel inVirginia MilitiabuiltseriesForts inwestern frontierVirginia. He accompaniedBraddock Expedition ofBritish Army duringFrenchIndian War. Duringbattle ofWilderness nearMonongahela he had three horses shot out from under him. He showed his coolness under fireorganizingretreat fromdebacle. Washington then organizedFirst Virginia Regiment, which saw service throughwar; however, Washington leftRegimentserve inHouseBurgesses.
Between wars
Following his military service,1757 he married Martha Dandridge Custis, wealthy widowDaniel Parke Custis. The newlywed couple movedhis estate Mount Vernon where he took uplife ofgenteel farmer. He becamemember ofHouseBurgesses. He was initiated asFreemasonFredericksburg, Virginia, on 4 February 1752.
American Revolution
American forces crossingDelaware
On July 3, 1775 he assumed command ofContinental Army inAmerican Revolutionary War. After successfully drivingBritish outBoston, Washington lostBattleLong Island1776retreatedValley Forge, outsideBritish-held Philadelphia, whereAmerican forces recovered. On December 25, 1776, Washington ledAmerican forces crossingDelawareattack Hessian forcesTrenton, New Jersey. The successful attack built morale amongpro-independence colonists.
Washington retained an armybeing throughoutRevolution, keeping British forces tied down incenter ofcountry while Generals GatesBenedict Arnold wonbattleSaratoga1777. This victory ledFrench recognition ofUnited States.
In 1781, Washington, commanding both AmericanFrench forces, besieged General Cornwallis atBattleYorktownVirginia. The British surrender there waseffective endBritish attemptsquellRevolution. In 1783, by means ofTreatyParis,KingdomGreat Britain recognized American independence. Asresult, on November 2that year at Rocky Hill, New Jersey General Washington gave his "Farewell Address toArmy". Then at Fraunces TavernNew York City on December 4, General Washington formally bid his officers farewell.
Postwar activities
Afterwar, he presided overAmerican Constitutional Convention1787. He was elected President on February 4, 17891792. Washington remainsonly president unanimously elected byU.S. Electoral College.
His election as president wasdisappointmenthis wife,first First Lady ofUnited States, who wantedcontinue livingquiet retirement at Mount Vernon afterwar. Nevertheless, she quickly assumedrolehostess, opening her parlororganizing weekly dinner partiesas many dignitaries as could fit aroundpresidential table.
Washington heldfirst Cabinet meetingany US President on February 25, 1793.
Events during Washington's administration
Citizen Genet
In 1793,revolutionary governmentFrance sent diplomat Citizen Genet, who attemptedturn popular sentiment towards American involvement inwar against Great Britain. Genet also was authorizedissue lettersmarquereprisalAmerican shipsgave authorityany French consulserve asprize court. Genet's activities forced WashingtonaskFrench governmenthis recall
The "Whiskey Rebellion"
In 1791,Federal government imposed an excise tax on whiskey. This tax was highly unpopular onAmerican frontier,in July, 1794,Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,Federal marshal was attacked bymob andregional inspector's house was burned. On August 7, 1794, Washington called outmilitiasseveral statesledforce13,000suppressunrest. The event has gone downhistory as"Whiskey Rebellion".
Personal information
Washington's estate, Mount Vernon,locatedwhatnowsuburbWashington, D.C.
AdmirersWashington circulated an apocryphal story about his honesty aschild. Instory, he wantedtry outnew axechopped down his father's cherry tree. When questioned by his father, he gavefamous non-quotation "I cannot telllie. It was I who chopped downcherry tree." The story first appeared after Washington's death innaive "inspirational" children's book by Parson Mason Weems, who had been rector ofMount Vernon parish. See also George Washington's axean elaborationthis story.
BecauseWashington's involvementFreemasonry, some publicly visible collectionsWashington memorabiliamaintained by Masonic lodges. The museum at Fraunces Tavern MuseumNew York City includes specimensWashington's false teeth.
George Washington was plagued throughout his adult lifebad teeth, losing about 1 toothyear fromage24. In his later years he consultednumberdentistshadnumbersetsfalse teeth, (but nonewood). Formore or less definitive chroniclehis struggles see George Washington's Teeth, Madeleine ComoraDeborah Chandra, illustrated by: Brock Cole, Farrar, StrausGiroux, 2003, hardcover, ISBN 0374325340.
At his timedeath, Washington last heldrankmajor general, appointed by John Adamsanticipation ofpossible warFrance. Overyears, many military officers outranked him. In 1976, President Gerald Ford posthumously appointed George Washington as General ofArmies ofUnited States,specified that he would always outrank all officers ofArmy, pastpresent.
Modern day doctors now believe that Washington died from eitherstreptococcal infection ofthroat, or, since he was bled as parthis treatment,combinationshock fromlossblood, asphyxia,dehydration. He was buried infamily graveyardMount Vernon.
Religious beliefs
George Washington was arguably one offew American Presidents who was notChristian. He professedstrong beliefGod, but did not believe that God intervened inworld through supernatural miracles. His informal religion was Deism, although he waslifelong memberthe Episcopal Church.
Washington was an early supporterreligious pluralism. In 1790 he wrote that he envisionedcountry "which gives bigotry no sanction...persecution no assistance....MayChildren ofStockAbraham, who dwellthis land, continuemeritenjoygood will ofother Inhabitants; while every one shall sit under his own vinefig tree,there shall be nonemake him afraid." This letter was seen byJewish community assignificant event;felt that forfirst timemillennia Jews would enjoy full humanpolitical rights.
Legacy incontemporary U.S.
The capital city ofUnited States, Washington, D.C,namedhim. The DistrictColumbia was created by an ActCongress1790,Washington was deeply involvedits creation, includingsiting ofWhite House. At this time,future site ofcapital wasswamp,Washington remained largely marshland well into19th century. The capital was placed inSouth, rather than inmajor towns ofNorth, ascompromise duringwriting ofUnited States Constitutionorderget Southern votesimportant compromises.
Washington also selected West Point, New York, assite forUnited States Military Academy.
Washington State inPacific Northwest ofU.S.also namedhim,only state named forpresident.
Numerous shipsUnited States Navy have been named USS George Washingtonhonor ofman, or USS Washingtonhonor ofstate namedhonor ofman.
His imageonone dollar bill andquarter-dollar coin.
Places namedGeorge Washington
- Washington County, Alabama
- Washington County, Florida
- Washington County, Indiana
- Washington County, Maryland
- Washington County, New York
- Washington County, Oregon
- Washington County, Utah
- Washington state
- Washington, D.C
Supreme Court appointments
- John Jay - Chief Justice - 1789
- John Rutledge - Chief Justice - 1795
- Oliver Ellsworth - Chief Justice - 1796
- James Wilson - 1789
- John Rutledge - 1790
- William Cushing - 1790
- John Blair - 1790
- James Iredell - 1790
- Thomas Johnson - 1792
- William Paterson - 1793
- Samuel Chase - 1796
Related articles
- U.S. presidential election, 1789
- U.S. presidential election, 1792
- Famous military commanders
- George Washington's farewell address
External links
- First Inaugural Address
- Second Inaugural Address
- Farewell Address
- A study onPresident's ancestry
- Wikiquote - Quotes by George Washington
- BiographyGeorge Washington
| (Previous government underArticlesConfederation) | Presidents ofUnited States | Succeeded by: John Adams |
