Birth: February 22, 1732, Pope's Creek, Virginia
Death: December 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, Virginia
Early Influences:
- Grew up on family estate
- Father died when he was 11
- Lived with his half brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon, who became a surrogate father for him
Education:
- Early education was along classical lines and included surveying
- Did not attend a University
Major Accomplishments:
- Surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia
- Distinguished himself as General Braddock's aide-de-camp in the French and Indian War, 1755
- Named commander in chief of the Virginia militia, 1755
- Elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1759
- Unanimously chosen commander in chief of the Continental Army, June 1775
- Masterminded the American victory at Yorktown, October 1781
- Unanimously elected President of the Constitutional Convention 1787
- Unanimously elected President of the United States twice, 1789 and 1792
Significance:
- His tactical and interpersonal skills as a Commander made winning the Revolutionary War possible
- As First President of the United States did not relish power and stayed away from making the Presidency 'monarchical'.
- Warned against 'permanent foreign alliances' in his Farewell Address
- Formed the Presidency with future Presidency with future presidents in mind
Contemporaries:
- Benjamin Franklin - American Inventor and Statesman
- George III - King of England
- Marquis de Lafayette - French Military Officer
