George Washington is one of our greatest forefathers. He has served as not only president, but also as one of the greatest generals in the history of America. He lived his life to the fullest, and was truly proud to be an American.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Bell Washington. Augustine and Mary were very prosperous Virginians. George spent most of his early years along the Potomac River. In school he learned mathematics, surveying, and the "rules of civility". George's father died when he was only ten years old. He went to live with his half brother, Lawrence, at Mount Vernon. .
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George had an early ambition to survey and his mother took notice real quick. He help to lay out the town of Belhaven, Virginia. In 1749 he was appointed surveyor of Culpepper County. When Lawrence died in 1752, George automatically inherited the Mount Vernon Estate. When tensions between the French and British started, new opportunities for George were created. George was dispatched in October of 1753 by Governor Robert Dinwiddie to warn the French commander against any further movement on to territory claimed by the Britain. .
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In January of 1759 he married Martha Dandridge Custis. After 1769 he became a leader in Virginia's opposition to Great Britain's colonial policies. In June of 1775, he was named commander in chief of the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he went back to Mount Vernon, which was now in bad shape because of his absence. After the new Constitution was created in 1789, he was unanimously elected the 1st President. On March of 1797 he left office. When he left office, he reluctantly commanded the army in 1798 against the French. He was not very active during this war and decided he rather spend his last years on his estate. In December of 1799 he was infected with acute laryngitis and died at the age of 67 on December 14, 1799.
