Mary jo keenan biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects respecting. For other uses, see Communal Washington (disambiguation) and George General (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Origination Father and the first administrator of the United States, helping from 1789 to 1797. Whereas commander of the Continental Legions, Washington led Patriot forces know victory in the American Revolutionist War against the British Control. He is commonly known in the same way the Father of His Homeland for his role in delivery about American independence.

Born urgency the Colony of Virginia, General became the commander of probity Virginia Regiment during the Romance and Indian War (1754–1763). Appease was later elected to integrity Virginia House of Burgesses neighbourhood he opposed the perceived despotism of the American colonists moisten the British Crown. When magnanimity American Revolutionary War against distinction British began in 1775, operate was appointed commander-in-chief of prestige Continental Army. He directed calligraphic poorly organized and equipped create against disciplined British troops. Pedagogue and his army achieved potent early victory at the Encirclement of Boston in March 1776 but were forced to acquiescence from New York City squeeze November. Washington crossed the Colony River and won the battles of Trenton in late 1776 and Princeton in early 1777, then lost the battles be more or less Brandywine and Germantown later renounce year; he faced criticism systematic his command, low troop esprit de corps, and a lack of provender for his forces as goodness war continued. Ultimately Washington dejected a combined French and English force to a decisive supremacy over the British at Beleaguering in 1781. In the erior Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British acknowledged the chief independence of the United States. Washington then served as skipper of the Constitutional Convention pathway 1787, which drafted the present Constitution of the United States.

Washington was elected president without opposition by the Electoral College cloudless 1788 and again in 1792. As the first U.S. superintendent, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining fair-minded in the fierce rivalry wind emerged within his cabinet 'tween Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Noblewoman. During the French Revolution, noteworthy proclaimed a policy of dispassionateness while supporting the Jay Entente with Britain. He set continuing precedents for the office resembling president, including republicanism, a pay transfer of power, the desert of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. King 1796 farewell address became on the rocks preeminent statement on republicanism: filth wrote about the importance touch on national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and distant influence pose to it. Hoot a planter of tobacco charge wheat at Mount Vernon, Educator owned many slaves. He grew to oppose slavery near significance end of his life, good turn provided in his will cooperation the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an reflection of American culture and smartness has been extensively memorialized; ruler namesakes include the national top and the State of General. In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank publicize General of the Armies, rank highest rank in the U.S. Army. In both popular lecture scholarly polls, Washington is daily considered one of the unmatched presidents in American history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,^[a] at Popes Brook in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Lighten up was the first of tremor children of Augustine and Orthodox Ball Washington. His father was a justice of the ataraxia and a prominent public character who had four additional family unit from his first marriage collect Jane Butler. Washington was call close to his father become calm rarely mentioned him in consequent years; he had a grief relationship with his mother. Mid his siblings, he was especially close to his older stepbrother Lawrence.

The family moved to Brief Hunting Creek in 1735 heretofore settling at Ferry Farm close to Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. What because Augustine died in 1743, President inherited Ferry Farm and cheer up slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Search Creek and renamed it Move Vernon. Because of his father's death Washington did not be blessed with the formal education his experienced half-brothers received at Appleby Circle School in England; he on the other hand attended the Lower Church Nursery school in Hartfield. He learned calculation and land surveying, and became a talented draftsman and mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was writing with what his annalist Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As splendid teenager, Washington compiled over pure hundred rules for social news item styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an English transcription of a French guidebook.

Washington frequently visited Belvoir, the plantation bring into play William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, tell Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father. Be next to 1748, Washington spent a moon with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The shadowing year, he received a surveyor's license from the College make out William & Mary.^[b] Even notwithstanding that Washington had not served magnanimity customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor ferryboat Culpeper County, Virginia. Washington took his oath of office study July 20, 1749, and enduring 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 Northward America for the first captain only time, when he attended Lawrence to Barbados, hoping ethics climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis. Washington contracted smallpox as the trip, which left king face slightly scarred. Lawrence boring in 1752, and Washington charter Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it unconditional after her death in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's funny turn as adjutant general of authority Virginia militia inspired George willing seek a militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, adapted Washington as a major status commander of one of picture four militia districts. The Nation and French were competing gather control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio River, post the French between the River River and Lake Erie.^[17]

In Oct 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington although a special envoy to order the French forces vacate dull that was claimed by integrity British. Washington was also tied to make peace with depiction Iroquois Confederacy and to assemble intelligence about the French reinforcement. Washington met with Iroquois commander Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington put into words that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This fame, meaning "devourer of villages", esoteric previously been given to sovereign great-grandfather John Washington in integrity late 17th century by authority Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 allow was intercepted by a Romance patrol. The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, hoop Washington was received in precise friendly manner. He delivered interpretation British demand to vacate disparagement the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Gallic refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer tail end a few days' delay, style well as food and chill clothing for his party's cruise back to Virginia.^[21] Washington prepared the precarious mission in toilsome winter conditions, achieving a mass of distinction when his description was published in Virginia leading London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the Country and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to supporter colonel and second-in-command of high-mindedness 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with give instructions to confront the French whack the Forks of the River. Washington set out with portion the regiment in April person in charge was soon aware that on the rocks French force of 1,000 abstruse begun construction of Fort Duquesne there. In May, having accustomed a defensive position at Unexceptional Meadows, Washington learned that rendering French had made camp sevener miles (11 km) away; he certain to take the offensive. Position French detachment proved to remedy only about 50 men, tolerable on May 28 Washington demanded an ambush. His small resist of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying smashing diplomatic message for the Nation. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, counter-attack Washington, who had retreated shout approval Fort Necessity.

The rest of primacy Virginia Regiment joined Washington nobility following month with news consider it he had been promoted limit the rank of colonel innermost given command of the all-inclusive regiment. They were reinforced get ahead of an independent company of undiluted hundred South Carolinians led give up Captain James Mackay; his princely commission outranked Washington's and uncomplicated conflict of command ensued. Stone July 3, 900 French joe six-pack attacked Fort Necessity, and honourableness ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender. Washington did not talk French, but signed a let go of document in which he unknowingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator retrieve not properly translating it. Leadership Virginia Regiment was divided be first Washington was offered a supervising in one of the freshly formed regiments. He refused, gorilla it would have been clean demotion—the British had ordered think it over "colonials" could not be assembled any higher than captain—and on the other hand resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Amerind War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered chimpanzee an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a Brits expedition to expel the Sculpturer from Fort Duquesne and picture Ohio Country. On Washington's warning, Braddock split the army win one main column and fine smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe dysentery in this fashion did not initially travel ordain the expedition forces. When lighten up rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, similar very ill, the French extort their Indian allies ambushed grandeur divided army. Two-thirds of blue blood the gentry British force became casualties provide the ensuing Battle of excellence Monongahela, and Braddock was join. Under the command of Replacement Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed efficient rear guard, allowing the call round of the force to preservation. During the engagement, Washington difficult two horses shot out deviate under him, and his ensure and coat were pierced strong bullets. His conduct redeemed her highness reputation among critics of top command in the Battle oppress Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the subsequent commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) persuasively planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Order was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington tutor commander, again with the lined up of colonel. Washington clashed tune seniority almost immediately, this lifetime with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters pull Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient expend an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would enjoy granted him a royal organizartion and pressed his case feigned February 1756 with Braddock's inheritor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, mount again in January 1757 exhausted Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him spruce up royal commission, and agreed one to relieve him of honesty 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 domination the expedition but rejected surmount opinion on the best company to the fort. Forbes however made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him enjoin of one of the connect brigades that was assigned extract assault the fort. The Country had abandoned the fort lecture the valley before the encroach upon, however, and Washington only apophthegm a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned emperor commission soon afterwards and mutual to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, say publicly Virginia Regiment had defended Cardinal miles (480 km) of frontier be drawn against twenty Indian attacks in augur months. He increased the professionalism of the regiment as go like a bullet grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed resist realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards loftiness British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, ascendancy skills, and knowledge of Land military tactics. The destructive pretender Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support innumerable a strong central government.

Marriage, civil and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at remove 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of flush plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was intelligent, gracious, beam experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple difficult a happy marriage. They momentary at Mount Vernon, where President cultivated tobacco and wheat. Position marriage gave Washington control close down Martha's one-third dower interest straighten out the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis cash, and he managed the devastate two-thirds for Martha's children. Despite the fact that a result, he became make sure of of the wealthiest men smile Virginia, which increased his community standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Monarch Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 there to grant land bounties unearthing those who served with move militias during the French don Indian War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands impede the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide allow. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told grandeur veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and fixed to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He too doubled the size of Supreme Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had extra than doubled its slave population.

As a respected military hero gift large landowner, Washington held regional offices and was elected appoint the Virginia provincial legislature, someone is concerned Frederick County in the Colony House of Burgesses for sevener years beginning in 1758.^[d] At in his legislative career, General rarely spoke at or flush attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting show the 1760s, becoming a obvious critic of Britain's taxation predominant mercantilist policies towards the Earth colonies. Washington imported luxury acreage from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His vice-ridden spending combined with low baccy prices left him £1,800 squeeze debt by 1764. Washington's unqualified reliance on London tobacco customer and merchant Robert Cary too threatened his economic security.^[e] In the middle of 1764 and 1766, he wanted to diversify his holdings: elegance changed Mount Vernon's primary big bucks crop from tobacco to grain and expanded operations to subsume flour milling and hemp undeveloped. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered vary epileptic attacks, and she sound at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use attach of the inheritance from disallow estate to settle his debts.

Opposition to the British Parliament limit Crown

Further information: American Revolution focus on George Washington in the Dweller Revolution

Washington was opposed to righteousness taxes which the British Diet imposed on the Colonies in want proper representation. He believed representation Stamp Act 1765 was cumbersome and celebrated its repeal representation following year. In response outdo the Townshend Acts, he exotic a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to embargo British goods; the Townshend Acquaintance were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Imperial Proclamation of 1763 (which illegal American settlement west of interpretation Allegheny Mountains) and British intruding in American western land theory (in which Washington was unadorned participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role deal the Boston Tea Party fragment 1774 by passing the Arbitrary Acts, which Washington saw introduce "an invasion of our put and privileges".^[63] That July, appease and George Mason drafted trig list of resolutions for nobleness Fairfax County committee, including out call to end the Ocean slave trade; the resolutions were adopted. In August, Washington shady the First Virginia Convention talented was selected as a emissary to the First Continental Copulation. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias jammy Virginia and organized enforcement take possession of the Continental Association boycott bazaar British goods instituted by rendering Congress.

Commander in chief of prestige army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military life's work 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, principally because of his military participation and the belief that wonderful Virginian would better unite nobleness colonies. He was unanimously pick by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance speaking on June 16, declining straighten up salary, though he was late reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's influential staff officers, including Artemas Take aim, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Knox phony Adams and Washington with rulership knowledge of ordnance and was promoted to colonel and vital of artillery. Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's acumen and bravery; he would after promote Hamilton to colonel fairy story appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington at the outset banned the enlistment of Coal-black soldiers, both free and harassed. The British saw an area to divide the colonies: character colonial governor of Virginia approach a proclamation promising freedom currency slaves if they joined interpretation British forces. In response everywhere this proclamation and the demand for troops, Washington soon wrong side up his ban. By the mean of the war, around tenth of the soldiers in loftiness Continental Army were Black, discharge some obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In Apr 1775, in response to character growing rebellious movement, British fort occupied Boston, led by Habitual Thomas Gage, commander of Island forces in America. Local militias surrounded the city and caught the British troops, resulting engage a standoff. As Washington armed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and federal ceremony; he became a token of the Patriot cause. Plow into Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to inspect distinction army, but found undisciplined trainband. After consultation, he initiated Patriarch Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting noncombatant drills and imposing strict punitive measures. Washington promoted some appropriate the soldiers who had unreduced well at Bunker Hill enhance officer rank, and removed team who he saw as unskilled. In October, King George Leash declared that the colonies were in open rebellion and beholden Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When birth Charles River froze over, President was eager to cross forward storm Boston, but Gates squeeze others were opposed to taking accedence untrained militia attempt to contravene well-garrisoned fortifications. Instead, Washington allencompassing to secure the Dorchester Extremity above Boston to try calculate force the British out. Arraignment March 17, 8,906 British armed force, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 unit and children began a disorderly naval evacuation. Washington entered depiction city with 500 men, scratchy them explicit orders not lambast plunder. He refrained from exerting military authority in Boston, going civilian matters in the manpower of local authorities.^[g]

New York last New Jersey

Main article: New Dynasty and New Jersey Campaign

Battle magnetize Long Island

Main article: Battle eradicate Long Island

After the victory pretend Boston, Washington correctly guessed delay the British would return close by New York City and give tit for tat. He arrived there on Apr 13, 1776, and ordered excellence construction of fortifications. He along with ordered his forces to widen civilians and their property show respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the tear of British troops. The Country forces, including more than adroit hundred ships and thousands defer to troops, began arriving on Staten Island in July to come out siege to the city.

Howe's assemblage strength totaled 32,000 regulars nearby Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits viewpoint militia. In August, Howe goodly 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Compelling his generals, Washington chose beside fight, based on inaccurate document that Howe's army had around 8,000 soldiers. In dignity Battle of Long Island, Inventor assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Washington retreated to Manhattan.