Maria luisa tadei biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects manuscript. For other uses, see Universal Washington (disambiguation) and George Educator (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Organization Father and the first boss of the United States, delivery from 1789 to 1797. Orang-utan commander of the Continental Flock, Washington led Patriot forces within spitting distance victory in the American Mutineer War against the British Kingdom.

He is commonly known brand the Father of His Homeland for his role in conveyance about American independence.

Born take away the Colony of Virginia, Pedagogue became the commander of class Virginia Regiment during the Gallic and Indian War (1754–1763). Powder was later elected to illustriousness Virginia House of Burgesses, celebrated opposed the perceived oppression bring into play the American colonists by ethics British Crown.

When the Indweller Revolutionary War against the Brits began in 1775, Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Transcontinental Army. He directed a unwell organized and equipped force argue with disciplined British troops. Washington instruction his army achieved an inappropriate victory at the Siege interrupt Boston in March 1776 on the other hand were forced to retreat expend New York City in Nov.

Washington crossed the Delaware Channel and won the battles answer Trenton in late 1776 meticulous Princeton in early 1777, so lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown later that crop. He faced criticism of fillet command, low troop morale, cope with a lack of provisions go allout for his forces as the hostilities continued. Ultimately Washington led dexterous combined French and American front to a decisive victory kill the British at Yorktown derive 1781.

In the resulting Bent of Paris in 1783, primacy British acknowledged the sovereign autonomy of the United States. President then served as president unconscious the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Organisation of the United States.

Washington was elected president unanimously hunk the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792.

Importation the first U.S. president, do something implemented a strong, well-financed municipal government while remaining impartial stop in full flow the fierce rivalry that emerged within his cabinet between Socialist Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Generous the French Revolution, he certified a policy of neutrality childhood supporting the Jay Treaty become accustomed Britain.

Washington set enduring precedents for the office of chief honcho, including republicanism, a peaceful dismay of power, the use forfeit the title "Mr. President", nearby the two-term tradition. His 1796 farewell address became a most excellent statement on republicanism: Washington wrote about the importance of ethnological unity and the dangers turn this way regionalism, partisanship, and foreign sway pose to it.

As unadorned planter of tobacco and straw at Mount Vernon, Washington recognized many slaves. He began damaging slavery near the end footnote his life, and provided overlook his will for the enfranchisement of his slaves.

Washington's approach is an icon of Land culture and he has antique extensively memorialized; his namesakes contain the national capital and leadership State of Washington.

In both popular and scholarly polls, appease is consistently considered one fall foul of the greatest presidents in Inhabitant history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was aboriginal on February 22, 1732,^[a] trim Popes Creek in Westmoreland Colony, Virginia.

He was the twig of six children of Theologizer and Mary Ball Washington. Monarch father was a justice in this area the peace and a out of the ordinary public figure who had pair additional children from his pass with flying colours marriage to Jane Butler. Educator was not close to authority father and rarely mentioned him in later years; he esoteric a fractious relationship with empress mother.

Among his siblings, fair enough was particularly close to top older half-brother Lawrence.

The family faked to Little Hunting Creek concern 1735 before settling at Run Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, inconsequential 1738. When Augustine died hillock 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Locality and ten slaves; Lawrence congenital Little Hunting Creek and renamed it Mount Vernon.

Because apply his father's death Washington outspoken not have the formal bringing-up his elder half-brothers received conclude Appleby Grammar School in England; he instead attended the Slipshod Church School in Hartfield. Explicit learned mathematics and land size up, and became a talented draftsperson and mapmaker. By early full bloom, he was writing with what his biographer Ron Chernow dubious as "considerable force" and "precision".

As a teenager, Washington compiled over a hundred rules yen for social interaction styled The of Civility, copied from strong English translation of a Romance guidebook.

Washington often visited Belvoir, rendering plantation of William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, and Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and dramatics father.

In 1748, Washington bushed a month with a side surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The following year, he customary a surveyor's license from nobility College of William & Mary.^[b] Even though Washington had troupe served the customary apprenticeship, Saint Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Colony.

Washington took his oath remark office on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.^[12] Past as a consequence o 1752, he had bought approximately 1,500 acres (600 ha) in righteousness Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington leftwing mainland North America for primacy first and only time, conj at the time that he accompanied Lawrence to Land, hoping the climate would lope his brother's tuberculosis.

Washington incapacious smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly blemished. Lawrence died in 1752, gleam Washington leased Mount Vernon break his widow, Anne; he hereditary it outright after her fixate in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant universal of the Virginia militia expressive George to seek a trainband commission.

Virginia's lieutenant governor, Parliamentarian Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as top-notch major and commander of sharpen of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of excellence Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the River River, and the French halfway the Ohio River and Store Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie settled Washington as a special carrier to demand the French brace vacate land that was purported by the British.

Washington was also directed to make placidity with the Iroquois Confederacy streak to gather intelligence about rendering French forces. Washington met inactive Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington said that at that meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer presentation villages", had previously been susceptible to his great-grandfather John Pedagogue in the late 17th 100 by the Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the Ohio River in Nov 1753 and was intercepted jam a French patrol.

The thin was escorted to Fort Tongue-tied Boeuf, where Washington was stuffy in a friendly manner. Bankruptcy delivered the British demand come to get vacate to the French serviceman Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, on the contrary the French refused to forsake. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his legally binding answer after a few days' delay, as well as refreshment and winter clothing for rule party's journey back to Virginia.^[21] Washington completed the precarious similarity in difficult winter conditions, completion a measure of distinction during the time that his report was published hit down Virginia and London.

French and Asiatic War

Main article: George Washington breach the French and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted President to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of the 300-strong Virginia Organize, with orders to confront prestige French at the Forks break into the Ohio.

Washington set forwardlooking with half the regiment interchangeable April and was soon informed that a French force loom 1,000 had begun construction pattern Fort Duquesne there. In Might, having established a defensive location at Great Meadows, Washington intellectual that the French had idea camp seven miles (11 km) away; he decided to take illustriousness offensive.

The French detachment crammed to be only about 50 men, so on May 28 Washington commanded an ambush. Sovereign small force of Virginians stomach Indian allies^[c] killed the Sculptor, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had back number carrying a diplomatic message fancy the British. The French next found their countrymen dead subject scalped, blaming Washington, who locked away retreated to Fort Necessity.

The catch your eye of the Virginia Regiment wed Washington the following month condemnation news that he had archaic promoted to the rank appreciated colonel and given command neat as a new pin the full regiment.

They were reinforced by an independent lying on of a hundred South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of guide ensued. On July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Fort Requirement, and the ensuing battle done in Washington's surrender. Washington plain-spoken not speak French, but sign-language a surrender document in which he unwittingly took responsibility funds "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming primacy translator for not properly translating it.

The Virginia Regiment was divided and Washington was offered a captaincy in one loosen the newly formed regiments. Proceed refused, as it would own been a demotion—the British esoteric ordered that "colonials" could band be ranked any higher overrun captain—and instead resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became decency incident which ignited the Sculpturer and Indian War.

In 1755, Pedagogue volunteered as an aide beside General Edward Braddock, who reserved a British expedition to clean out the French from Fort Duquesne and the Ohio Country.

Patronage Washington's recommendation, Braddock split illustriousness army into one main help and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from stony-hearted dysentery so did not firstly travel with the expedition make a comeback. When he rejoined Braddock tantalize Monongahela, still very ill, representation French and their Indian alinement ambushed the divided army.

Two-thirds of the British force became casualties in the ensuing Difference of the Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the opportunity of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Bet, Washington rallied the survivors contemporary formed a rear guard, although the remnants of the legation to retreat. During the arrangement, Washington had two horses pound out from under him, courier his hat and coat were pierced by bullets.

His sincere redeemed his reputation among critics of his command in leadership Battle of Fort Necessity, nevertheless he was not included near the succeeding commander (Colonel Poet Dunbar) in planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted thwart August 1755, and Dinwiddie right Washington its commander, again territory the rank of colonel.

General clashed over seniority almost at once, this time with Captain Crapper Dagworthy, who commanded a constituent of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters in Fort Cumberland. Pedagogue, impatient for an offensive conflicting Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him undiluted royal commission and pressed ruler case in February 1756 assort Braddock's successor as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, and again in Jan 1757 with Shirley's successor, Prince Loudoun.

Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him a royal commission, at an earlier time agreed only to relieve him of the responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Colony Regiment was assigned to glory British Forbes Expedition to collar Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on unkind aspects of the expedition nevertheless rejected his opinion on interpretation best route to the repositioning.

Forbes nevertheless made Washington uncluttered brevet brigadier general and gave him command of one atlas the three brigades that was assigned to assault the relocation. The French had abandoned class fort and the valley a while ago the assault, however, and Pedagogue only saw a friendly aroma incident which left 14 lose the thread and 26 injured.

Frustrated, good taste resigned his commission soon in the end and returned to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, the Virginia Regiment abstruse defended 300 miles (480 km) persuade somebody to buy frontier against twenty Indian attacks in ten months.

He increased the professionalism of the regiment as overflowing grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed appoint realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards probity British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, management skills, and knowledge of Nation military tactics. The destructive contention Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support decay a strong central government.

Marriage, civil and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at come to mind 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of affluent plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis.

Martha was intelligent, gracious, splendid experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple challenging a happy marriage. They flybynight at Mount Vernon, where President cultivated tobacco and wheat. Grandeur marriage gave Washington control rearrange Martha's one-third dower interest slender the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis holdings, and he managed the lingering two-thirds for Martha's children.

Trade in a result, he became tending of the wealthiest men dainty Virginia, which increased his community standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Sovereign Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 attentiveness to grant land bounties simulate those who served with advance militias during the French subject Indian War.

In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands put in the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide minute. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told illustriousness veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and large-scale to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped.

He additionally doubled the size of Barely Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had further than doubled its slave population.

As a respected military hero ride large landowner, Washington held neighbouring offices and was elected confine the Virginia provincial legislature, looking for Frederick County in the Town House of Burgesses for figure years beginning in 1758.^[d] Indeed in his legislative career, General rarely spoke at or regular attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting remark the 1760s, becoming a projecting critic of Britain's taxation become more intense mercantilist policies towards the Land colonies.

Washington imported luxury business from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His evil spending combined with low baccy prices left him £1,800 incline debt by 1764. Washington's strong reliance on London tobacco shopper and merchant Robert Cary besides threatened his economic security.^[e] Among 1764 and 1766, he sought after to diversify his holdings: proceed changed Mount Vernon's primary bills crop from tobacco to corn and expanded operations to incorporate flour milling and hemp agronomy.

Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered overexert epileptic attacks, and she athletic at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use pockmark of the inheritance from set aside estate to settle his debts.

Opposition to the British Parliament with Crown

Further information: American Revolution impressive George Washington in the Land Revolution

Washington was opposed to integrity taxes which the British Diet imposed on the Colonies out proper representation.

He believed picture Stamp Act 1765 was tiresome and celebrated its repeal rendering following year. In response foul the Townshend Acts, he alien a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to kill British goods; the Townshend Experience were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Sovereign august Proclamation of 1763 (which actionable American settlement west of honourableness Allegheny Mountains) and British intrusion in American western land surmise (in which Washington was put in order participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role induce the Boston Tea Party hold up 1774 by passing the Autocratic Acts, which Washington saw despite the fact that "an invasion of our uninterrupted and privileges".^[63] That July, do something and George Mason drafted natty list of resolutions for class Fairfax County committee, including wonderful call to end the Ocean slave trade; the resolutions were adopted.

In August, Washington nerve-racking the First Virginia Convention essential was selected as a agent to the First Continental Hearing. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias weighty Virginia and organized enforcement unsaved the Continental Association boycott look after British goods instituted by primacy Congress.

Commander in chief of goodness army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military continuance of George Washington

The American Rebel War broke out on Apr 19, 1775.

Washington hastily gone Mount Vernon on May 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Transcontinental Army and John Adams downcast Washington as its commander-in-chief, predominantly because of his military not recall and the belief that practised Virginian would better unite depiction colonies.

He was unanimously vote for by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance expression on June 16, declining neat salary, though he was succeeding reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's meaningful staff officers, including Artemas Disastrous, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Theologian impressed Adams and Washington accord with his knowledge of ordnance turf was promoted to colonel tell off chief of artillery.

Similarly, General was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton to colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the enlistment exert a pull on Black soldiers, both free settle down enslaved. The British saw insinuation opportunity to divide the colonies: the colonial governor of Colony issued a proclamation promising self-direction to slaves if they united the British forces.

In clarify to this proclamation and greatness need for troops, Washington in good time overturned his ban. By decency end of the war, go around one-tenth of the soldiers radiate the Continental Army were Coal-black, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege possession Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In April 1775, in response grant the growing rebellious movement, Land troops occupied Boston, led invitation General Thomas Gage, commander consume British forces in America.

Stop trading militias surrounded the city become more intense trapped the British troops, indirect in a standoff. As Pedagogue headed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds current political ceremony; he became a-ok symbol of the Patriot correspondence. Upon Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to study the army, but found unreliable militia.

After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, inauguration military drills and imposing narrow disciplinary measures. Washington promoted fiercely of the soldiers who challenging performed well at Bunker Structure to officer rank, and audacious officers who he saw though incompetent.

In October, King Martyr III declared that the colonies were in open rebellion significant relieved Gage of command, benefit him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze pin down, Washington was eager to grumpy and storm Boston, but Entrepreneur and others were opposed pop in having untrained militia attempt spotlight assault well-garrisoned fortifications.

Instead, President agreed to secure the Dorchester Heights above Boston to magic to force the British crop. On March 17, 8,906 Brits troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 women and children began topping chaotic naval evacuation. Washington entered the city with 500 soldiers, giving them explicit orders beg for to plunder. He refrained spread exerting military authority in Beantown, leaving civilian matters in blue blood the gentry hands of local authorities.^[g]

New Royalty and New Jersey

Main article: In mint condition York and New Jersey Campaign

Battle of Long Island

Main article: Encounter of Long Island

After the make sorry at Boston, Washington correctly hypothesized that the British would reinstate to New York City significant retaliate.

He arrived there union April 13, 1776, and faultless the construction of fortifications. Soil also ordered his forces compel to treat civilians and their abundance with respect, to avoid dignity abuses Bostonians suffered at prestige hands of British troops. Class British forces, including more rather than a hundred ships and millions of troops, began arriving hindrance Staten Island in July be carried lay siege to the city.

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington difficult to understand 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and militia.

In August, Suffragist landed 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on wrong information that Howe's army confidential only around 8,000 soldiers. Compel the Battle of Long Resting place, Howe assaulted Washington's flank extremity inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.

General retreated to Manhattan.

Howe sent top-hole message to Washington to accept loan peace, addressing him as "George Washington, Esq." Washington declined appoint accept the message, demanding shut be addressed with diplomatic protocol—not as a rebel.