Biography british george washington
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George Washington
Founding Pop, first U.S. president (–)
"General Washington" redirects here. Back other uses, see Public Washington (disambiguation) and Martyr Washington (disambiguation).
George Washington | |
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Portrait c. | |
In office April 30, – March 4, | |
Vice President | John Adams |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | John Adams |
In office June 19, – December 23, | |
Appointed by | Continental Congress |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Henry Historian (as Postpositive major Officer) |
In office September 5, – June 16, | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Thomas Jefferson |
In office July 24, – June 24, | |
Preceded by | Hugh West |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Constituency | |
In office April 30, – December 14, | |
Born | February 22, [a] Popes Cove, Colony reproach Virginia, Island America |
Died | December 14, () (aged67) Mount Vernon, Town, U.S. |
Resting place | Mount Vernon, Virginia 38°42′″N77°05′″W / °N °W / ; |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse | |
Relatives | Washington family |
Occupation |
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Awards | |
Signature | |
Branch/service | |
Yearsof service | • Early YearsWashington was born on February 22, , at Popes Creek farm in Westmoreland County on the Northern Neck. (By the Julian, or Old Style, calendar, in effect in England until , he was born on February ) His father, Augustine Washington, owned nearly 3, acres of tobaccoland (including the site of Mount Vernon, overlooking the Potomac River) and properties containing iron ore, while managing an iron furnace for an English company. After the death of his first wife, Augustine Washington married Mary Ball, whose first child was George.When Washington was six his family moved to Ferry Farm, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg. His older half-brothers, Lawrence and Austin, studied in England, but the death of Augustine Washington when George was eleven eliminated his chance for schooling abroad. He had an irregular education under different schoolmasters and tutors, and learned the basics of surveying. Many years later, John Adams directed an ungenerous remark at Washington, disparaging the first president as too illiterate, unread, unlearned for his station. Washington himself admitted to his consciousness of a defective education. Washington came under the patronage of the wealthy and powerful Fairfax family after Lawrence Washington married Ann • On April 30, , George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. "As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent," he wrote James Madison, "it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles." Born in into a Virginia planter family, he learned the morals, manners, and body of knowledge requisite for an 18th century Virginia gentleman. He pursued two intertwined interests: military arts and western expansion. At 16 he helped survey Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in , he fought the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The next year, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. From to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life. But like his fellow planters, Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations. As the qu |