George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732, in Popes Creek, Virginia. Then, Virginia was one of the British thirteen colonies in North America. His family owned several plantations and farms, where he also grew up. Further, young Geroge did not receive formal education. Instead, he likely had private teachers. When his father died in 1743, he started to help his mother run the plantations.
At the age of fifteen, he started to work as a surveyor. Hence, he helped explore the western regions of America. His older brother helped him get this prestigious job. Further, he joined the Virginia militia in 1752 and saw action in the French – Indian war.
In 1759, George Washington returned to his home in Mount Vernon and married Martha Dandridge. Besides, he joined the representative body of Virginia. Soon, Washington concluded that the British exploited the colonies. He was a member of the First (1774) and Second (1775) Continental Congress.
✟ December 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, USA
Revolution and President
After being nominated by John Adams, his future vice president, the Second congress chose him to lead the Continental army. Washington proved to be an influential general as he managed to keep the morale of his soldiers high. In 1781, five years after the Declaration of Independence, the British surrendered.
The 1783 Treaty of Paris sealed American independence, and Washington again decided to return to Mount Vernon. Yet, the public wanted him to return. Hence, in 1789 he won the first-ever American presidential elections. At that time, Washington D.C. did not exist. So, he resided in New York and Philadephia.
As he was the first president of the USA, he had to set up some rules and habits for the role. He put Alexander Hamilton in charge of the finances and nominated John Jay to lead the Supreme Court. His Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson. Another close companion and advisor was James Madison. Besides, he established the Bank of America and started the politics of international neutrality. He believed in freedom, a strong central government, however, he also declined a third term on the notion that No man should be more than the republic.
Washington was not a supporter of political parties but eventually lost this war. After his second term ended in 1797, he once again returned to his farms. Geroge Washington, the leading Founding Father, died on December 14th, 1799, in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
George Washington
