George Washington

Presidents, 1732-1799

George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and first president of the United States, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the son of a prosperous farmer. He received schooling until age 16, did not attend college, and became a surveyor. He was appointed an adjutant-general at age 19 and in 1754 fought in the Battle of Great Meadows at the inception of the French and Indian War. He was forced to surrender Fort Necessity in that conflict and later resigned his commission. Nevertheless, in 1755 he joined Edward Braddock in his stunning defeat in western Pennsylvania and made a remarkable escape. He later commanded the Virginia militia in the West and accompanied John Forbes in the capture of Fort Duquesne.

In 1759, Washington's life changed dramatically; he married Martha Custis and also was elected to the House of Burgesses. His greatest pleasure was found in the role of planter at his beloved estate at Mount Vernon. Washington was a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses, and received from the latter the appointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

In July 1775, Washington assumed charge of the soldiers at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and gained early success by forcing the British out of Boston. American prospects worsened with a string of defeats at Brooklyn, New York, White Plains, Fort Washington and the retreat across New Jersey. Spirits of the soldiers and the populace at large were buoyed by Washington's surprise at Trenton and victory at Princeton late in 1776.

The Continental Army suffered defeats at Brandywine and Germantown in 1777, but in the process managed to tie up British forces in Pennsylvania and deny them the opportunity to link up with General Burgoyne in upstate New York. Washington's forces spent the winter of 1777-78 in abject misery at Valley Forge. In June 1778, Washington demonstrated his leadership by rallying the forces at the Battle of Monmouth.

In the last years of the War, the focus was primarily on events in the South. Washington's final military contribution arrived in 1781 when he led the soldiers in a rapid march from the Hudson to Chesapeake Bay, setting the stage for the final victory at Yorktown. Washington resigned his commission on December 23, 1783.

Washington consented to serve as the presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention, reflecting his displeasure at the weakness of the Articles of Confederation government. Following ratification of the new Constitution, Washington was unanimously elected president and took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789.

As president, Washington was responsible for establishing the procedures for running the new government, many of which still govern events today. He conducted several tours of the country and received the adulation of a grateful country. Much to his displeasure, partisan politics emerged in a contest between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Washington's popularity hit a major snag in 1795 in Jay's Treaty with Britain and was the target of unsparing criticism from such Republican newspaper critics as Benjamin Bache.

In September 1796, Washington issued his Farewell Address to the nation, a statement that was published in newspapers and not delivered as a speech.

Popular culture has sometimes unnecessarily ascribed to Washington events and characteristics which have no historical basis. Without question, Washington was a man of high moral stature and one of America's leading historical figures, but some early biographers have insisted on gilding the lily, probably in an effort to set a good example for children.

Washington's greatest political legacy stemmed from his ability to convince a suspicious populace that a prosperous and peaceful future was better assured by a regulated federal government than by independent states.

Sponsors of U-S-History.com:

Sponsor this site