Family
and childhood
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. He was the eldest child of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. His father was an energetic man who owned plantations, businesses and mines.
George spent most of his childhood on a farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Although he had little formal education, he was good in mathematics. By his early teens he was able to do surveying and make maps. He also mastered tobacco growing and stock raising.
When George was 11, his father died. Then George lived mainly with his half brother Lawrence, the older of his mother's two sons from a previous marriage. Lawrence lived on the family's plantation of Little Hunting Creek on the Potomac River. He expanded the estate and named it Mount Vernon. There George learned the ways of a country gentleman.
Surveyor and farmer
Washington turned first to surveying as a profession. At 16 he joined a group sent to survey unknown lands on the Virginia frontier. On his return in 1749 he became the official surveyor of Culpeper County.
After Lawrence's death in 1752, Washington became head of Mount Vernon. He was only 20 years old. Over the years he gradually enlarged and improved the estate and its landscaping. He took great pride in his duties as a farmer. Most of the work at Mount Vernon was done by slaves.
Early military career
Washington joined the Virginia militia in the early 1750s. At that time the French were entering lands along the Ohio River that Britain had claimed. In April 1754 Washington was sent with almost 200 men to enforce the British claims to the Ohio River lands. In May he captured a French party and killed its commander. This attack began the French and Indian War Outnumbered by a much larger force, Washington and his men had to surrender when the French counterattacked. They were allowed to return to Virginia only after they had given up their prisoners.
In 1755 Washington fought against the French once more, this time as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock. When Braddock was killed in battle, Washington led the defeated army to safety. In honor of his bravery, the governor of Virginia made him a colonel and commander of all Virginia troops.
Marriage and plantation life
After the war Washington returned to Mount Vernon. In 1759 he married Martha Dandridge, a widow with two children from her previous marriage. Washington settled down to the life of a landowner, becoming one of the richest planters in Virginia.
American Revolution
During this period Washington also served in the House of Burgesses, Virginia's representative assembly, in Williamsburg. There he heard discussions of resistance to British rule in the colonies. At first he remained loyal to Britain. By the late 1760s, however, he had joined in acts of resistance against unfair British policies.
In 1774 Washington participated in the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, marking the beginning of his national career. In April 1775 fighting began between British and American troops in Massachusetts. When the second Continental Congress met in May, the representatives chose Washington to lead the colonial forces. In July 1775 he took command of the Continental Army.
The American Revolution lasted for six years. Washington's job as commander was difficult. He had to build an army from untrained and often unpaid men. Because terms of service were short, he often saw nearly his whole army disappear as soldiers went home.
At times Washington and his forces came close to total defeat. Their lowest point was the winter of 1777–78, which they spent in camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Thousands of soldiers were barefoot and without adequate clothing in the bitter cold. Many died of exposure, and more than 2,000 deserted. Mainly because of Washington's leadership, however, the troops held together. When spring came, they emerged as a well-disciplined and efficient fighting force.
In 1781 the British surrendered at Yorktown in Virginia. Two years later the peace treaty was signed. Washington went back to Mount Vernon.
Election to presidency
Soon Washington returned to public life. He presided over the convention of 1787 at which the United States Constitution was written. After the Constitution was adopted, Washington was the obvious choice to be the country's first president. At the time, the president was chosen by a group of men called electors. The electors voted unanimously, and Washington took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789. He was reelected in 1792. John Adams was his vice president.
Retirement and death
After eight years as president, Washington was tired. He refused to be considered for a third term. After retiring to Mount Vernon in March 1797, he devoted himself to his family and farm. Washington enjoyed less than three years of retirement. On December 13, 1799, he became ill with a severe throat infection. As his illness grew worse he said, "I am not afraid to go." He died on December 14, 1799, two months before his 68th birthday.
Bibliography
"Washington, George." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 30 Oct. 2009 <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=345536>.
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. He was the eldest child of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. His father was an energetic man who owned plantations, businesses and mines.
George spent most of his childhood on a farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Although he had little formal education, he was good in mathematics. By his early teens he was able to do surveying and make maps. He also mastered tobacco growing and stock raising.
When George was 11, his father died. Then George lived mainly with his half brother Lawrence, the older of his mother's two sons from a previous marriage. Lawrence lived on the family's plantation of Little Hunting Creek on the Potomac River. He expanded the estate and named it Mount Vernon. There George learned the ways of a country gentleman.
Surveyor and farmer
Washington turned first to surveying as a profession. At 16 he joined a group sent to survey unknown lands on the Virginia frontier. On his return in 1749 he became the official surveyor of Culpeper County.
After Lawrence's death in 1752, Washington became head of Mount Vernon. He was only 20 years old. Over the years he gradually enlarged and improved the estate and its landscaping. He took great pride in his duties as a farmer. Most of the work at Mount Vernon was done by slaves.
Early military career
Washington joined the Virginia militia in the early 1750s. At that time the French were entering lands along the Ohio River that Britain had claimed. In April 1754 Washington was sent with almost 200 men to enforce the British claims to the Ohio River lands. In May he captured a French party and killed its commander. This attack began the French and Indian War Outnumbered by a much larger force, Washington and his men had to surrender when the French counterattacked. They were allowed to return to Virginia only after they had given up their prisoners.
In 1755 Washington fought against the French once more, this time as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock. When Braddock was killed in battle, Washington led the defeated army to safety. In honor of his bravery, the governor of Virginia made him a colonel and commander of all Virginia troops.
Marriage and plantation life
After the war Washington returned to Mount Vernon. In 1759 he married Martha Dandridge, a widow with two children from her previous marriage. Washington settled down to the life of a landowner, becoming one of the richest planters in Virginia.
American Revolution
During this period Washington also served in the House of Burgesses, Virginia's representative assembly, in Williamsburg. There he heard discussions of resistance to British rule in the colonies. At first he remained loyal to Britain. By the late 1760s, however, he had joined in acts of resistance against unfair British policies.
In 1774 Washington participated in the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, marking the beginning of his national career. In April 1775 fighting began between British and American troops in Massachusetts. When the second Continental Congress met in May, the representatives chose Washington to lead the colonial forces. In July 1775 he took command of the Continental Army.
The American Revolution lasted for six years. Washington's job as commander was difficult. He had to build an army from untrained and often unpaid men. Because terms of service were short, he often saw nearly his whole army disappear as soldiers went home.
At times Washington and his forces came close to total defeat. Their lowest point was the winter of 1777–78, which they spent in camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Thousands of soldiers were barefoot and without adequate clothing in the bitter cold. Many died of exposure, and more than 2,000 deserted. Mainly because of Washington's leadership, however, the troops held together. When spring came, they emerged as a well-disciplined and efficient fighting force.
In 1781 the British surrendered at Yorktown in Virginia. Two years later the peace treaty was signed. Washington went back to Mount Vernon.
Election to presidency
Soon Washington returned to public life. He presided over the convention of 1787 at which the United States Constitution was written. After the Constitution was adopted, Washington was the obvious choice to be the country's first president. At the time, the president was chosen by a group of men called electors. The electors voted unanimously, and Washington took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789. He was reelected in 1792. John Adams was his vice president.
Retirement and death
After eight years as president, Washington was tired. He refused to be considered for a third term. After retiring to Mount Vernon in March 1797, he devoted himself to his family and farm. Washington enjoyed less than three years of retirement. On December 13, 1799, he became ill with a severe throat infection. As his illness grew worse he said, "I am not afraid to go." He died on December 14, 1799, two months before his 68th birthday.
Bibliography
"Washington, George." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 30 Oct. 2009 <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=345536>.