George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. He was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Bell Washington, who were prosperous Virginia gentry of English descent. Washington spent his early years on the family estate in Pope’s Creek along the Potomac River. He received most of his education at home; his early education included the study of mathematics, surveying, the classics, and the “rules of civility”. Upon the death of his father in 1743, he moved to Mount Vernon with his half brother Lawrence, who became a substitute father to George. Lawrence married into the prominent and influential Virginian Fairfax family, who helped Washington launch his career. George Washington’s early ambitions to go to sea were discouraged by his mother turning him to surveying. He helped lay o

ut the Virginia town of Belhaven and was appointed surveyor for Culpeper County. Lawrence died from tuberculosis in 1752 and George inherited the Mount Vernon estate (Flexner).

In 1753, Virginia was alarmed when a French expedition from Canada established posts on the headwaters of the Ohio River. Conflict over this area eventually erupted into the French and Indian War, in which Washington played a major military role that established his reputation as a commander (Martin). In April of 1754, on his way to establish a post at the Forks of the Ohio, Washington learned that the French had already set a fort there. George quickly threw up fortifications at Great Meadows, Pennsylvania, naming the entrenchment Fort Necessity, and marched to intercept advancing French troops. In result, the French commander was killed and most of his men were captured. Washington pulled his force back into Fort Necessity where the French overwhelmed him. Surrounded by the enemy with food supply cut off and dampened ammunitions useless, Washington capitulated. Under the terms of the surrender signed that day, he was permitted to march his troop back to Williamsburg. In the fall of 1758, the French were defeated and the war ended (Flexner).

Following his work in the war, Washington married Martha Dandridge Curtis, a wealthy young widow. Washington matured into a solid member of Virginia society. From 1759 to 1774 he served in the House of Burgesses (Flexner). By 1774 Washington had become a key supporter of th

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