George
Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland
County, Virginia, although he grew up near Fredericksburg.
In his childhood and adolescence, he studied math
and surveying. When he was 16, he went to live with
his brother Lawrence in Mount Vernon.
George
was scarred with Smallpox before the age of 20, but
inherited his brother's land (including Mt. Vernon)
when he died in 1752.
Washington's
military career began in 1753, when he was sent into
Ohio country. In 1754, he battled the French and was
forced to surrender Fort Necessity (near present-day
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). He continued as an officer
in Ohio country, and served under the British general
Edward Braddock when their army was ambushed by the
French in 1755. Once again, Washington tasted defeat
after their surrender of Fort Duquesne to French forces.
Washington helped take Fort Duquesne back in 1758.
Washington
was married to Martha Custis in 1759. Washington managed
the family and estate until he took command of the
Virginia troops just before the American Revolution.
He was made commander of the Continental Army on June
15, 1775. On Christmas night 1776, George Washington
and his men crossed the Delaware River and captured
a band of 800 Hessian soldiers. The event came to
be known as "Washington's Crossing".
Washington
proved himself an excellent leader, and won several
decisive battles during the Revolution. In 1781, George
Washington helped to formulate the plan that eventually
resulted in the defeat of the British army at Yorktown,
Virginia and the British surrender. As an advocate
of a federal government, Washington became chairman
of the Constitutional Convention and helped in getting
the Constitution ratified. In 1789, he was inaugurated
as America's first president.
Washington
was re-elected for a second term in in 1792, but refused
a third term. On December 14, 1799, seventeen days
before the new century, Washington died of acute laryngitis.
