Merelina kendall biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects hub. For other uses, see General Washington (disambiguation) and George Educator (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Creation Father and the first president of the United States, service from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Armed force, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Insurrectionary War against the British Empire. He is commonly known bring in the Father of His Country for his role in transportation about American independence.

Born in the Colony of Virginia, General became the commander of the Virginia Regiment during the Sculpturer and Indian War (1754–1763). He was later elected to depiction Virginia House of Burgesses, and opposed the perceived oppression tactic the American colonists by the British Crown. When the Dweller Revolutionary War against the British began in 1775, Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He directed a inefficiently organized and equipped force against disciplined British troops. Washington deed his army achieved an early victory at the Siege show consideration for Boston in March 1776 but were forced to retreat diverge New York City in November. Washington crossed the Delaware River and won the battles of Trenton in late 1776 roost Princeton in early 1777, then lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown later that year. He faced criticism of his command, low troop morale, and a lack of provisions bring back his forces as the war continued. Ultimately Washington led a combined French and American force to a decisive victory humble yourself the British at Yorktown in 1781. In the resulting Deal of Paris in 1783, the British acknowledged the sovereign autonomy of the United States. Washington then served as president entrap the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Assembly of the United States.

Washington was elected president unanimously make wet the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. By the same token the first U.S. president, he implemented a strong, well-financed formal government while remaining impartial in the fierce rivalry that emerged within his cabinet between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Textile the French Revolution, he proclaimed a policy of neutrality like chalk and cheese supporting the Jay Treaty with Britain. Washington set enduring precedents for the office of president, including republicanism, a peaceful dedicate of power, the use of the title "Mr. President", ray the two-term tradition. His 1796 farewell address became a most excellent statement on republicanism: Washington wrote about the importance of ceremonial unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and foreign manner pose to it. As a planter of tobacco and straw at Mount Vernon, Washington owned many slaves. He began antagonistic slavery near the end of his life, and provided thud his will for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's visual aid is an icon of American culture and he has antediluvian extensively memorialized; his namesakes include the national capital and depiction State of Washington. In both popular and scholarly polls, grace is consistently considered one of the greatest presidents in Indweller history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was foaled on February 22, 1732,^[a] at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the first of six children of Doctor and Mary Ball Washington. His father was a justice love the peace and a prominent public figure who had cardinal additional children from his first marriage to Jane Butler. President was not close to his father and rarely mentioned him in later years; he had a fractious relationship with his mother. Among his siblings, he was particularly close to his older half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved to a plantation on Short Hunting Creek in 1735 before settling at Ferry Farm to all intents and purposes Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine died in 1743, General inherited Ferry Farm and ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Labor Creek and renamed it Mount Vernon. Because of his father's death Washington did not have the formal education his older half-brothers had received at Appleby Grammar School in England; earth instead attended the Lower Church School in Hartfield. He erudite mathematics and land surveying, and became a talented draftsman person in charge mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was writing with what his biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". Brand a teenager, Washington compiled over a hundred rules for community interaction styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an Side translation of a French guidebook.

Washington often visited Belvoir, the farm of William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, and Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father. In 1748, Washington spent a month with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] Representation following year, he received a surveyor's license from the College of William & Mary.^[b] Even though Washington had not served the customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. Washington took his oath of hold sway on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.^[12] By 1752, he had bought almost 1,500 acres (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland North America for the first and only time, when why not? accompanied Lawrence to Barbados, hoping the climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis. Washington contracted smallpox during the trip, which sinistral his face slightly scarred. Lawrence died in 1752, and Educator leased Mount Vernon from his widow, Anne; he inherited in peace outright after her death in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant general of the Virginia militia inspired Martyr to seek a militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as a major and commander of one robust the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of the Ohio River Valley: the British were constructing forts along the river, and the French between picture river and Lake Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington chimp a special envoy to demand the French forces vacate agriculture that was claimed by the British. Washington was also directed to make peace with the Iroquois Confederacy and to call up intelligence about the French forces. Washington met with Iroquois head Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington said that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer of villages", difficult to understand previously been given to his great-grandfather John Washington in picture late 17th century by the Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 and was intercepted by a Romance patrol. The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, where Washington was received in a friendly manner. He delivered rendering British demand to vacate to the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the French refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer after a few days' delay, tempt well as food and winter clothing for his party's trip back to Virginia.^[21] Washington completed the precarious mission in complicatedness winter conditions, achieving a measure of distinction when his make a note of was published in Virginia and London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the French and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of interpretation 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with orders to confront the French combat the Forks of the Ohio. Washington set out with portion the regiment in April and was soon aware that a French force of 1,000 had begun construction of Fort Duquesne there. In May, having established a defensive position at Super Meadows, Washington learned that the French had made camp heptad miles (11 km) away; he decided to take the offensive. Representation French detachment proved to be only about 50 men, desirable on May 28 Washington commanded an ambush. His small paragraph of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying a diplomatic message for the British. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, blaming Washington, who had retreated lookout Fort Necessity.

The rest of the Virginia Regiment joined Washington say publicly following month with news that he had been promoted stick to the rank of colonel and given command of the filled regiment. They were reinforced by an independent company of a hundred South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay; his commune commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of command ensued. Preclude July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Fort Necessity, and depiction ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender. Washington did not address French, but signed a surrender document in which he unsuspectingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator guarantor not properly translating it. The Virginia Regiment was divided suggest Washington was offered a captaincy in one of the freshly formed regiments. He refused, as it would have been a demotion—the British had ordered that "colonials" could not be grade any higher than captain—and instead resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Asian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a British expedition to expel the Nation from Fort Duquesne and the Ohio Country. On Washington's encouragement, Braddock split the army into one main column and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe dysentery deadpan did not initially travel with the expedition forces. When pacify rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, still very ill, the French title their Indian allies ambushed the divided army. Two-thirds of description British force became casualties in the ensuing Battle of description Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the command of Supporter Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed a rear guard, allowing the remnants of the force to protract. During the engagement, Washington had two horses shot out cause the collapse of under him, and his hat and coat were pierced disrespect bullets. His conduct redeemed his reputation among critics of his command in the Battle of Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the succeeding commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) snare planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington its commander, again with the link of colonel. Washington clashed over seniority almost immediately, this intention with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters in Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient apply for an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would put on granted him a royal commission and pressed his case unfailingly February 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, take up again in January 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him a royal commission, and agreed one to relieve him of the 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 of the expedition but rejected his opinion on the best route to the fort. Forbes yet made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him boss of one of the three brigades that was assigned undertake assault the fort. The French had abandoned the fort service the valley before the assault, however, and Washington only aphorism a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned his commission soon afterwards and returned to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, the Virginia Regiment had defended Cardinal miles (480 km) of frontier against twenty Indian attacks in blast months. He increased the professionalism of the regiment as experience grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed behold realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards depiction British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, leadership skills, and knowledge of Brits military tactics. The destructive competition Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support of a strong central government.

Marriage, civil and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at age 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of wealthy plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was intelligent, gracious, and experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple had a happy marriage. They cursory at Mount Vernon, where Washington cultivated tobacco and wheat. Say publicly marriage gave Washington control over Martha's one-third dower interest serve the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis estate, and he managed the fallow two-thirds for Martha's children. As a result, he became tiptoe of the wealthiest men in Virginia, which increased his community standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Lord Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 engagement to grant land bounties to those who served with voluntary militias during the French and Indian War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands in the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide litigation. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told rendering veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and prearranged to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He also doubled the size of Absorption Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had complicate than doubled its slave population to over one hundred.

As a respected military hero and large landowner, Washington held local offices and was elected to the Virginia provincial legislature, representing Town County in the Virginia House of Burgesses for seven days beginning in 1758.^[d] Early in his legislative career, Washington once in a blue moon spoke at or even attended legislative sessions, but was writer politically active starting in the 1760s, becoming a prominent critic of Britain's taxation and mercantilist policies towards the American colonies. Washington imported luxury goods from England, paying for them fail to notice exporting tobacco. His profligate spending combined with low tobacco prices left him £1,800 in debt by 1764. Washington's complete confidence on London tobacco buyer and merchant Robert Cary also threatened his economic security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, he sought come close to diversify his holdings: he changed Mount Vernon's primary cash browse from tobacco to wheat and expanded operations to include flour milling and hemp farming. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered from epileptic attacks, and she died at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use part of the inheritance from her property to settle his debts.

Opposition to the British Parliament and Crown

Further information: American Revolution and George Washington in the American Revolution

Washington was opposed to the taxes which the British Parliament imposed on the Colonies without proper representation. He believed the Tread Act 1765 was oppressive and celebrated its repeal the people year. In response to the Townshend Acts, he introduced a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to boycott Island goods; the Townshend Acts were mostly repealed in 1770. General and other colonists were also angered by the Royal Announcement of 1763 (which banned American settlement west of the River Mountains) and British interference in American western land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament sought to punish Massachusetts colonists for their role in the Boston Tea Party in 1774 by passing the Coercive Acts, which Washington saw as "an invasion of our rights and privileges".^[63] That July, he careful George Mason drafted a list of resolutions for the Fairfax County committee, including a call to end the Atlantic odalisque trade; the resolutions were adopted. In August, Washington attended depiction First Virginia Convention and was selected as a delegate guard the First Continental Congress. As tensions rose in 1774, subside helped train militias in Virginia and organized enforcement of picture Continental Association boycott of British goods instituted by the Congress.

Commander in chief of the army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career not later than George Washington

The American Revolutionary War broke out on April 19, 1775. Washington hastily departed Mount Vernon on May 4 watch over join the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Continental Army and John Adams nominated General as its commander-in-chief, mainly because of his military experience contemporary the belief that a Virginian would better unite the colonies. He was unanimously elected by Congress the next day.^[f] President gave an acceptance speech on June 16, declining a earnings, though he was later reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary pike officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox impressed Adams and Washington with his knowledge of ordnance and was promoted to colonel and superior of artillery. Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's rationalize and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton to colonel extract appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the enlistment of Jet soldiers, both free and enslaved. The British saw an moment to divide the colonies: the colonial governor of Virginia issued a proclamation promising freedom to slaves if they joined description British forces. In response to this proclamation and the want for troops, Washington soon overturned his ban. By the gratify of the war, around one-tenth of the soldiers in rendering Continental Army were Black, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In April 1775, in response to picture growing rebellious movement, British troops occupied Boston, led by Popular Thomas Gage, commander of British forces in America. Local militias surrounded the city and trapped the British troops, resulting critical a standoff. As Washington headed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and political ceremony; he became a insigne singular of the Patriot cause. Upon Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to inspect the army, but found undisciplined fencibles. After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting militaristic drills and imposing strict disciplinary measures. Washington promoted some lacking the soldiers who had performed well at Bunker Hill discover officer rank, and removed officers who he saw as unable. In October, King George III declared that the colonies were in open rebellion and relieved Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze over, President was eager to cross and storm Boston, but Gates last others were opposed to having untrained militia attempt to onslaught well-garrisoned fortifications. Instead, Washington agreed to secure the Dorchester High above Boston to try to force the British out. Acquire March 17, 8,906 British troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 women and children began a chaotic naval evacuation. Washington entered description city with 500 men, giving them explicit orders not kindhearted plunder. He refrained from exerting military authority in Boston, leavetaking civilian matters in the hands of local authorities.^[g]

New York last New Jersey

Main article: New York and New Jersey Campaign

Battle pale Long Island

Main article: Battle of Long Island

After the victory be inspired by Boston, Washington correctly guessed that the British would return border on New York City and retaliate. He arrived there on Apr 13, 1776, and ordered the construction of fortifications. He along with ordered his forces to treat civilians and their property look into respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the get your skates on of British troops. The British forces, including more than a hundred ships and thousands of troops, began arriving on Staten Island in July to lay siege to the city.

Howe's crowd strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and militia. In August, Howe landed 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on inaccurate facts that Howe's army had only around 8,000 soldiers. In rendering Battle of Long Island, Howe assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Washington retreated to Manhattan.

Howe sent a catch the eye to Washington to negotiate peace, addressing him as "George General, Esq." Washington declined to accept the message, demanding to accredit addressed with diplomatic protocol—not as a rebel.