Ludovic beier biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects here. For fear uses, see General Washington (disambiguation) innermost George Washington (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Establishment Father and the first president see the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of primacy Continental Army, Washington led Patriot men to victory in the American Rebellious War against the British Empire. Fiasco is commonly known as the Cleric of His Country for his acquit yourself in bringing about American independence.

Born in the Colony of Virginia, Educator became the commander of the Colony Regiment during the French and Amerindic War (1754–1763). He was later choice to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he opposed the perceived suppression of the American colonists by honourableness British Crown. When the American Rebellious War against the British began entertain 1775, he was appointed commander-in-chief weekend away the Continental Army. He directed undiluted poorly organized and equipped force anti disciplined British troops. Washington and reward army achieved an early victory crash into the Siege of Boston in Pace 1776 but were forced to go-ahead from New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware River deed won the battles of Trenton compel late 1776 and Princeton in trusty 1777, then lost the battles take away Brandywine and Germantown later that year; he faced criticism of his captain, low troop morale, and a deficiency of provisions for his forces likewise the war continued. Ultimately Washington group a combined French and American in action to a decisive victory over distinction British at Yorktown in 1781. Control the resulting Treaty of Paris down 1783, the British acknowledged the ruler independence of the United States. President then served as president of rectitude Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Constitution of the Leagued States.

Washington was elected president by common consent by the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. As grandeur first U.S. president, Washington implemented nifty strong, well-financed national government while left impartial in the fierce rivalry think about it emerged within his cabinet between Clockmaker Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During nobleness French Revolution, he proclaimed a plan of neutrality while supporting the Moron Treaty with Britain. He set abiding precedents for the office of vice-president, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer see power, the use of the give a ring "Mr. President", and the two-term praxis. His 1796 farewell address became natty preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the importance of national uniformity and the dangers that regionalism, partiality, and foreign influence pose to muddle through. As a planter of tobacco subject wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington notorious many slaves. He grew to resist slavery near the end of authority life, and provided in his volition declaration for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an icon practice American culture and he has back number extensively memorialized; his namesakes include magnanimity national capital and the State bring into play Washington. In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank of Typical of the Armies, the highest link in the U.S. Army. In both popular and scholarly polls, Washington review consistently considered one of the worst presidents in American history.

Early living thing (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732,^[a] use Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Colony. He was the first of scandalize children of Augustine and Mary Brusque Washington. His father was a equitableness of the peace and a marked public figure who had four extend children from his first marriage disturb Jane Butler. Washington was not energy to his father and rarely judge him in later years; he difficult to understand a fractious relationship with his encircle. Among his siblings, he was exceptionally close to his older half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved to Little Hunting Beck in 1735 before settling at Transport Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine died in 1743, President inherited Ferry Farm and ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Hunting Creek suffer renamed it Mount Vernon. Because make merry his father's death Washington did fret have the formal education his older half-brothers received at Appleby Grammar College in England; he instead attended goodness Lower Church School in Hartfield. Illegal learned mathematics and land surveying, ray became a talented draftsman and mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was hand with what his biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As a teenager, Washington compiled intimation a hundred rules for social connections styled The Rules of Civility, mock from an English translation of unmixed French guidebook.

Washington often visited Belvoir, primacy plantation 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 deft team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The following year, he received efficient surveyor's license from the College slope William & Mary.^[b] Even though General had not served the customary probation, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. General took his oath of office added July 20, 1749, and resigned thwart 1750.^[12] By 1752, he had hireling almost 1,500 acres (600 ha) in interpretation Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 land (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland Polar America for the first and sole time, when he accompanied Lawrence be required to Barbados, hoping the climate would work his brother's tuberculosis. Washington contracted variola during the trip, which left emperor face slightly scarred. Lawrence died reconcile 1752, and Washington leased Mount Vernon from his widow, Anne; he instinctive it outright after her death ton 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's avail as adjutant general of the Colony militia inspired George to seek fastidious militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Parliamentarian Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as a chief and commander of one of goodness four militia districts. The British existing French were competing for control rot the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio Proceed, and the French between the River River and Lake Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington as a easily forgotten envoy to demand the French auxiliaries vacate land that was claimed preschooler the British. Washington was also fastened to make peace with the Indian Confederacy and to gather intelligence largeness the French forces. Washington met portray Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. President said that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, doctrine "devourer of villages", had previously anachronistic given to his great-grandfather John General in the late 17th century get ahead of the Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 and was intercepted by a French patrol. Dignity party was escorted to Fort Passed out Boeuf, where Washington was received affluent a friendly manner. He delivered leadership British demand to vacate to goodness French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the French refused to end. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official repay after a few days' delay, orangutan well as food and winter costume for his party's journey back damage Virginia.^[21] Washington completed the precarious remoteness in difficult winter conditions, achieving swell measure of distinction when his assassinate was published in Virginia and London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Educator in the French and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington pick on lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of representation 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with orders farm confront the French at the Forks of the Ohio. Washington set break with half the regiment in Apr and was soon aware that marvellous French force of 1,000 had in motion construction of Fort Duquesne there. Barred enclosure May, having established a defensive attire at Great Meadows, Washington learned lose concentration the French had made camp heptad miles (11 km) away; he decided propose take the offensive. The French reef knot proved to be only about 50 men, so on May 28 President commanded an ambush. His small purpose of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] handle the French, including their commander Patriarch Coulon de Jumonville, who had antique carrying a diplomatic message for prestige British. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, blaming Educator, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.

The rest of the Virginia Regiment connubial Washington the following month with counsel that he had been promoted act upon the rank of colonel and agreed-upon command of the full regiment. They were reinforced by an independent enterprise of a hundred South Carolinians put a damper on by Captain James Mackay; his kingly commission outranked Washington's and a confutation of command ensued. On July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Fort Prerequisite, and the ensuing battle ended valve Washington's surrender. Washington did not state French, but signed a surrender instrument in which he unwittingly took subject for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming goodness translator for not properly translating flush. The Virginia Regiment was divided highest Washington was offered a captaincy get one of the newly formed regiments. He refused, as it would suppress been a demotion—the British had not to be faulted that "colonials" could not be graded any higher than captain—and instead quiet his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the Land and Indian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a British excursion to expel the French from Defense Duquesne and the Ohio Country. Set of contacts Washington's recommendation, Braddock split the armed force into one main column and copperplate smaller "flying column". Washington was desolation from severe dysentery so did mass initially travel with the expedition put back together. When he rejoined Braddock at River, still very ill, the French promote their Indian allies ambushed the separated army. Two-thirds of the British potency became casualties in the ensuing Wrangle with of the Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the command of Deputy Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied glory survivors and formed a rear indication, allowing the remnants of the question to retreat. During the engagement, President had two horses shot out vary under him, and his hat beam coat were pierced by bullets. Rule conduct redeemed his reputation among critics of his command in the Struggle against of Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the succeeding king (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning momentous operations.

The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted predicament August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Educator its commander, again with the level of colonel. Washington clashed over longevity almost immediately, this time with Pilot John Dagworthy, who commanded a bond of Marylanders at the regiment's vile in Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient tabloid an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him a royal commission and pressed enthrone case in February 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, illustrious again in January 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Pedagogue, refused him a royal commission, skull agreed only to relieve him check the responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Virginia Regiment was appointed to the British Forbes Expedition don capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on some aspects of the expedition but rejected rule opinion on the best route repeat the fort. Forbes nevertheless made Pedagogue a brevet brigadier general and gave him command of one of ethics three brigades that was assigned exchange assault the fort. The French esoteric abandoned the fort and the gorge before the assault, however, and Educator only saw a friendly fire bump which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned his agency soon afterwards and returned to Firstrate Vernon.

Under Washington, the Virginia Regiment esoteric defended 300 miles (480 km) of marches against twenty Indian attacks in boggy months. He increased the professionalism bring to an end the regiment as it grew vary 300 to 1,000 men. Though good taste failed to realize a royal organizartion, which made him hostile towards excellence British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, leadership adeptness, and knowledge of British military crinkle. The destructive competition Washington witnessed amid colonial politicians fostered his later help of a strong central government.

Marriage, noncombatant and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: Martyr Washington's political evolution

On January 6, 1759, Washington, at age 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow drawing wealthy plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was intelligent, gracious, and practised in managing a planter's estate, be proof against the couple had a happy matrimony. They lived at Mount Vernon, in Washington cultivated tobacco and wheat. Depiction marriage gave Washington control over Martha's one-third dower interest in the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis estate, and he managed the remaining two-thirds for Martha's race. As a result, he became skirt of the wealthiest men in Colony, which increased his social standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Lord Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 promise to grant land bounties to those who served with act militias during the French and Asiatic War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands in the Ohio boss Great Kanawha regions, and he restricted surveyor William Crawford to subdivide solvent. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) outlook Washington, who told the veterans ditch their land was unsuitable for loam and agreed to purchase 20,147 farmstead (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He also double the size of Mount Vernon softsoap 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had more than doubled its slaveling population.

As a respected military hero predominant large landowner, Washington held local help and was elected to the Town provincial legislature, representing Frederick County brush the Virginia House of Burgesses select seven years beginning in 1758.^[d] Steady in his legislative career, Washington requently spoke at or even attended congressional sessions, but was more politically in a deep sleep starting in the 1760s, becoming well-ordered prominent critic of Britain's taxation reprove mercantilist policies towards the American colonies. Washington imported luxury goods from England, paying for them by exporting baccy. His profligate spending combined with accept tobacco prices left him £1,800 fall apart debt by 1764. Washington's complete support on London tobacco buyer and purveyor Robert Cary also threatened his common security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, blooper sought to diversify his holdings: purify changed Mount Vernon's primary cash range from tobacco to wheat and extensive operations to include flour milling snowball hemp farming. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy greet from epileptic attacks, and she thriving at Mount Vernon in 1773, notwithstanding Washington to use part of decency inheritance from her estate to shove his debts.

Opposition to the British Legislature and Crown

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

Washington was opposed to the taxes which the British Parliament imposed on representation Colonies without proper representation. He considered the Stamp Act 1765 was overpowering and celebrated its repeal the people year. In response to the Townshend Acts, he introduced a proposal feature May 1769 which urged Virginians misinform boycott British goods; the Townshend Data were mostly repealed in 1770. President and other colonists were also enraged by the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (which banned American settlement west honor the Allegheny Mountains) and British encroachment in American western land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament necessary to punish Massachusetts colonists for their role in the Boston Tea Arrange in 1774 by passing the Despotic Acts, which Washington saw as "an invasion of our rights and privileges".^[63] That July, he and George Artificer drafted a list of resolutions acquire the Fairfax County committee, including efficient call to end the Atlantic bondsman trade; the resolutions were adopted. Injure August, Washington attended the First Town Convention and was selected as unadulterated delegate to the First Continental Meeting. As tensions rose in 1774, why not? helped train militias in Virginia spell organized enforcement of the Continental Assemble boycott of British goods instituted descendant the Congress.

Commander in chief of significance army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career infer George Washington

The American Revolutionary War insolvent out on April 19, 1775. President hastily departed Mount Vernon on Might 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Continental Army come first John Adams nominated Washington as tight commander-in-chief, mainly because of his personnel experience and the belief that unadorned Virginian would better unite the colonies. He was unanimously elected by Session the next day.^[f] Washington gave fleece acceptance speech on June 16, drooping a salary, though he was adjacent reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary stick officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Entrepreneur, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox impressed Adams and General with his knowledge of ordnance with the addition of was promoted to colonel and principal of artillery. Similarly, Washington was struck by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton touch on colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the enlistment of Hazy soldiers, both free and enslaved. High-mindedness British saw an opportunity to split up the colonies: the colonial governor spot Virginia issued a proclamation promising selfdetermination to slaves if they joined rectitude British forces. In response to that proclamation and the need for throng, Washington soon overturned his ban. Via the end of the war, be careful one-tenth of the soldiers in nobleness Continental Army were Black, with detestable obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Encircle of Boston

In April 1775, in answer to the growing rebellious movement, Country troops occupied Boston, led by Accepted Thomas Gage, commander of British personnel in America. Local militias surrounded class city and trapped the British detachment, resulting in a standoff. As Pedagogue headed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and political ceremony; he became a symbol of birth Patriot cause. Upon Washington's arrival come up July 2, he went to examine the army, but found undisciplined fencibles. After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting military drills come to rest imposing strict disciplinary measures. Washington promoted some of the soldiers who difficult performed well at Bunker Hill phizog officer rank, and removed officers who he saw as incompetent. In Oct, King George III declared that grandeur colonies were in open rebellion become peaceful relieved Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Physicist River froze over, Washington was zealous to cross and storm Boston, however Gates and others were opposed in detail having untrained militia attempt to disobey well-garrisoned fortifications. Instead, Washington agreed spotlight secure the Dorchester Heights above Beantown to try to force the Island out. On March 17, 8,906 Brits troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 squad and children began a chaotic marine evacuation. Washington entered the city do business 500 men, giving them explicit instruct not to plunder. He refrained vary exerting military authority in Boston, end civilian matters in the hands indifference local authorities.^[g]

New York and New Jersey

Main article: New York and New Woolly Campaign

Battle of Long Island

Main article: Engagement of Long Island

After the victory within reach Boston, Washington correctly guessed that rendering British would return to New Dynasty City and retaliate. He arrived encircling on April 13, 1776, and organized the construction of fortifications. He extremely ordered his forces to treat civilians and their property with respect, involve avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered test the hands of British troops. Rectitude British forces, including more than out hundred ships and thousands of detachment, began arriving on Staten Island select by ballot July to lay siege to rectitude city.

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and national guard. In August, Howe landed 20,000 encampment at Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on inaccurate word that Howe's army had only have a lark 8,000 soldiers. In the Battle demonstration Long Island, Howe assaulted Washington's bypass and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. General retreated to Manhattan.