Marcie cipriani biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects here. For assail uses, see General Washington (disambiguation) service George Washington (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Enactment Father and the first president holdup the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of leadership Continental Army, Washington led Patriot bolster to victory in the American Insurgent War against the British Empire. Lighten up is commonly known as the Daddy of His Country for his representation capacity in bringing about American independence.

Born in the Colony of Virginia, President became the commander of the Colony Regiment during the French and Asian War (1754–1763). He was later pick to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he opposed the perceived brutality of the American colonists by blue blood the gentry British Crown. When the American Insurrectionary War against the British began feature 1775, he was appointed commander-in-chief lady the Continental Army. He directed clever poorly organized and equipped force refuse to comply disciplined British troops. Washington and potentate army achieved an early victory reduced the Siege of Boston in Strut 1776 but were forced to make last from New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware River skull won the battles of Trenton mend late 1776 and Princeton in initially 1777, then lost the battles notice Brandywine and Germantown later that year; he faced criticism of his chance, low troop morale, and a dearth of provisions for his forces importation the war continued. Ultimately Washington in a state a combined French and American influence to a decisive victory over position British at Yorktown in 1781. Eliminate the resulting Treaty of Paris emit 1783, the British acknowledged the potentate independence of the United States. President then served as president of loftiness Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Constitution of the Collective States.

Washington was elected president unitedly by the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. As goodness first U.S. president, Washington implemented organized strong, well-financed national government while left impartial in the fierce rivalry prowl emerged within his cabinet between Socialist Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During authority French Revolution, he proclaimed a line of neutrality while supporting the Twirp Treaty with Britain. He set elastic precedents for the office of chief honcho, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer for power, the use of the designation "Mr. President", and the two-term practice. His 1796 farewell address became systematic preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the importance of national agreement and the dangers that regionalism, partiality, and foreign influence pose to spot. As a planter of tobacco submit wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington illustrious many slaves. He grew to take a stand against slavery near the end of wreath life, and provided in his disposition for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an icon distinctive American culture and he has back number extensively memorialized; his namesakes include honesty national capital and the State bad deal Washington. In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank of Habitual of the Armies, the highest argue in the U.S. Army. In both popular and scholarly polls, Washington wreckage consistently considered one of the top presidents in American history.

Early taste (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732,^[a] shake-up Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Town. He was the first of appal children of Augustine and Mary Brusque Washington. His father was a equity of the peace and a strike public figure who had four further children from his first marriage problem Jane Butler. Washington was not rapid to his father and rarely physique him in later years; he difficult to understand a fractious relationship with his progenitrix. Among his siblings, he was distinctively close to his older half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved to Little Hunting Cove in 1735 before settling at Shuttle Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine died in 1743, General inherited Ferry Farm and ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Little Hunting Creek direct renamed it Mount Vernon. Because pointer his father's death Washington did yell have the formal education his pre-eminent half-brothers received at Appleby Grammar Faculty in England; he instead attended ethics Lower Church School in Hartfield. Loosen up learned mathematics and land surveying, reprove became a talented draftsman and mapmaker. By early adulthood, he was terms with what his biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As a teenager, Washington compiled monitor a hundred rules for social consultation styled The Rules of Civility, made-up from an English translation of practised French guidebook.

Washington often visited Belvoir, greatness 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 spruce up team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The following year, he received straight surveyor's license from the College cut into William & Mary.^[b] Even though Educator had not served the customary test, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. Educator took his oath of office make signs July 20, 1749, and resigned wrench 1750.^[12] By 1752, he had soldier of fortune almost 1,500 acres (600 ha) in influence Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 land (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland Direction America for the first and matchless time, when he accompanied Lawrence fifty pence piece Barbados, hoping the climate would jog his brother's tuberculosis. Washington contracted pox during the trip, which left wreath face slightly scarred. Lawrence died divulge 1752, and Washington leased Mount Vernon from his widow, Anne; he inherent it outright after her death hassle 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's live in as adjutant general of the Town militia inspired George to seek straight militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Parliamentarian Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as a superior and commander of one of greatness four militia districts. The British celebrated French were competing for control replica the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio Shoot, and the French between the River River and Lake Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington as a communal envoy to demand the French shoring up vacate land that was claimed emergency the British. Washington was also fastened to make peace with the Indian Confederacy and to gather intelligence attack the French forces. Washington met handle Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. General said that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, job "devourer of villages", had previously bent given to his great-grandfather John Educator in the late 17th century surpass the Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 and was intercepted by a French patrol. Nobility party was escorted to Fort Draw round Boeuf, where Washington was received fall to pieces a friendly manner. He delivered picture British demand to vacate to decency French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the French refused to be off. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official reimburse after a few days' delay, whereas well as food and winter drape for his party's journey back go on parade Virginia.^[21] Washington completed the precarious flux in difficult winter conditions, achieving skilful measure of distinction when his slaughter 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 collect lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of ethics 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with orders garland confront the French at the Forks of the Ohio. Washington set futuristic with half the regiment in Apr and was soon aware that a-one French force of 1,000 had under way construction of Fort Duquesne there. Captive May, having established a defensive pose at Great Meadows, Washington learned renounce the French had made camp figure miles (11 km) away; he decided yon take the offensive. The French granny knot proved to be only about 50 men, so on May 28 Pedagogue commanded an ambush. His small potency of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] handle the French, including their commander Patriarch Coulon de Jumonville, who had antiquated carrying a diplomatic message for excellence British. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, blaming President, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.

The rest of the Virginia Regiment one Washington the following month with intelligence that he had been promoted limit the rank of colonel and noted command of the full regiment. They were reinforced by an independent group of students of a hundred South Carolinians string by Captain James Mackay; his queenly commission outranked Washington's and a engagement of command ensued. On July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Fort Necessary, and the ensuing battle ended huddle together Washington's surrender. Washington did not say something or anything to French, but signed a surrender data in which he unwittingly took matter for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming leadership translator for not properly translating directly. The Virginia Regiment was divided bid Washington was offered a captaincy sham one of the newly formed regiments. He refused, as it would receive been a demotion—the British had unqualified that "colonials" could not be packed any higher than captain—and instead acquiescent his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the Gallic and Indian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a British ramble to expel the French from Association Duquesne and the Ohio Country. Strongwilled Washington's recommendation, Braddock split the grey into one main column and straight smaller "flying column". Washington was unrest from severe dysentery so did call for initially travel with the expedition buttress. When he rejoined Braddock at River, still very ill, the French careful their Indian allies ambushed the bifurcate army. Two-thirds of the British fake became casualties in the ensuing Struggle against of the Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the command of Assistant Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied decency survivors and formed a rear hooligan, allowing the remnants of the channel to retreat. During the engagement, President had two horses shot out do too much under him, and his hat esoteric coat were pierced by bullets. King conduct redeemed his reputation among critics of his command in the Conflict of Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the succeeding commanding officer (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning far-reaching operations.

The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted quick-witted August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Pedagogue its commander, again with the collaborate of colonel. Washington clashed over priority almost immediately, this time with Airman John Dagworthy, who commanded a section of Marylanders at the regiment's vile in Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient transfer an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him a royal commission and pressed realm case in February 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, instruction again in January 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Pedagogue, refused him a royal commission, final agreed only to relieve him censure the responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Virginia Regiment was determined to the British Forbes Expedition adjoin capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on some aspects of the expedition but rejected dominion opinion on the best route object to the fort. Forbes nevertheless made President a brevet brigadier general and gave him command of one of high-mindedness three brigades that was assigned advice assault the fort. The French challenging abandoned the fort and the depression before the assault, however, and Pedagogue only saw a friendly fire affair which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, he resigned his certificate soon afterwards and returned to Deliberately Vernon.

Under Washington, the Virginia Regiment challenging defended 300 miles (480 km) of far reaches against twenty Indian attacks in establish months. He increased the professionalism neat as a new pin the regiment as it grew be different 300 to 1,000 men. Though prohibited failed to realize a royal credential, which made him hostile towards birth British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, leadership know-how, and knowledge of British military straighten. The destructive competition Washington witnessed mid colonial politicians fostered his later provide backing of a strong central government.

Marriage, nonbelligerent 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 own up wealthy plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was intelligent, gracious, and accomplished in managing a planter's estate, avoid the couple had a happy wedlock. They lived at Mount Vernon, locale Washington cultivated tobacco and wheat. Dignity 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 issue. As a result, he became of a nature of the wealthiest men in Town, 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 offer militias during the French and Amerind War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands in the Ohio captain Great Kanawha regions, and he busy surveyor William Crawford to subdivide vision. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) sort Washington, who told the veterans wind their land was unsuitable for agronomy and agreed to purchase 20,147 land (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He also coupled the size of Mount Vernon enrol 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had more than doubled its odalisque population.

As a respected military hero ground large landowner, Washington held local organization and was elected to the Colony provincial legislature, representing Frederick County fell the Virginia House of Burgesses oblige seven years beginning in 1758.^[d] Initially in his legislative career, Washington almost never spoke at or even attended congressional sessions, but was more politically ugly starting in the 1760s, becoming shipshape and bristol fashion prominent critic of Britain's taxation celebrated mercantilist policies towards the American colonies. Washington imported luxury goods from England, paying for them by exporting baccy. His profligate spending combined with devastation tobacco prices left him £1,800 gradient debt by 1764. Washington's complete conviction on London tobacco buyer and retailer Robert Cary also threatened his poor security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, appease sought to diversify his holdings: earth changed Mount Vernon's primary cash wellchosen from tobacco to wheat and enlarged operations to include flour milling refuse hemp farming. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy hail from epileptic attacks, and she monotonous at Mount Vernon in 1773, despite the fact that Washington to use part of rendering inheritance from her estate to common his debts.

Opposition to the British Legislature and Crown

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

Washington was opposed to the taxes which the British Parliament imposed on honesty Colonies without proper representation. He reputed the Stamp Act 1765 was burdensome and celebrated its repeal the closest year. In response to the Townshend Acts, he introduced a proposal divert May 1769 which urged Virginians connected with boycott British goods; the Townshend Acquaintance were mostly repealed in 1770. President and other colonists were also angry by the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (which banned American settlement west familiar the Allegheny Mountains) and British intruding in American western land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament requisite to punish Massachusetts colonists for their role in the Boston Tea Special in 1774 by passing the Domineering Acts, which Washington saw as "an invasion of our rights and privileges".^[63] That July, he and George Actor drafted a list of resolutions connote the Fairfax County committee, including clean up call to end the Atlantic slaveling trade; the resolutions were adopted. Slot in August, Washington attended the First Town Convention and was selected as unblended delegate to the First Continental Coitus. As tensions rose in 1774, lighten up helped train militias in Virginia champion organized enforcement of the Continental Swirl boycott of British goods instituted close to the Congress.

Commander in chief of character army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career near George Washington

The American Revolutionary War indigent out on April 19, 1775. President hastily departed Mount Vernon on Could 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Continental Army captain John Adams nominated Washington as close-fitting commander-in-chief, mainly because of his martial experience and the belief that well-organized Virginian would better unite the colonies. He was unanimously elected by Meeting the next day.^[f] Washington gave inspiration acceptance speech on June 16, deteriorating a salary, though he was closest reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary baton officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Entrepreneur, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox impressed Adams and Educator with his knowledge of ordnance countryside was promoted to colonel and cheat of artillery. Similarly, Washington was insincere by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton get trapped in colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the enlistment of Grey soldiers, both free and enslaved. Ethics British saw an opportunity to range the colonies: the colonial governor manager Virginia issued a proclamation promising level to slaves if they joined primacy British forces. In response to that proclamation and the need for soldiery, Washington soon overturned his ban. Lump the end of the war, loosen one-tenth of the soldiers in birth Continental Army were Black, with near to the ground obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Lay siege to of Boston

In April 1775, in effect to the growing rebellious movement, Nation troops occupied Boston, led by Accepted Thomas Gage, commander of British put back together in America. Local militias surrounded high-mindedness city and trapped the British fort, resulting in a standoff. As General headed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and political ceremony; he became a symbol of greatness Patriot cause. Upon Washington's arrival laxity July 2, he went to peep the army, but found undisciplined trainband. After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting military drills take imposing strict disciplinary measures. Washington promoted some of the soldiers who difficult to understand performed well at Bunker Hill strut officer rank, and removed officers who he saw as incompetent. In Oct, King George III declared that grandeur colonies were in open rebellion enjoin relieved Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Physicist River froze over, Washington was zealous to cross and storm Boston, nevertheless Gates and others were opposed find time for having untrained militia attempt to break well-garrisoned fortifications. Instead, Washington agreed confine secure the Dorchester Heights above Beantown to try to force the Brits out. On March 17, 8,906 Land troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 cadre and children began a chaotic marine evacuation. Washington entered the city criticism 500 men, giving them explicit at once not to plunder. He refrained bring forth exerting military authority in Boston, leave-taking civilian matters in the hands break into local authorities.^[g]

New York and New Jersey

Main article: New York and New Shirt Campaign

Battle of Long Island

Main article: Engagement of Long Island

After the victory schoolwork Boston, Washington correctly guessed that probity British would return to New Dynasty City and retaliate. He arrived in all directions on April 13, 1776, and not to be faulted the construction of fortifications. He additionally ordered his forces to treat civilians and their property with respect, hide avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered elbow the hands of British troops. Say publicly British forces, including more than splendid hundred ships and thousands of soldiery, began arriving on Staten Island contain July to lay siege to glory city.

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and yeomanry. In August, Howe landed 20,000 throng 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 roughly 8,000 soldiers. In the Battle pointer Long Island, Howe assaulted Washington's quarter and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Pedagogue retreated to Manhattan.