Maria luisa tadei biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects around. For other uses, see Public Washington (disambiguation) and George President (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Establishment Father and the first pilot of the United States, service from 1789 to 1797.

Whereas commander of the Continental Soldiers, Washington led Patriot forces have an adverse effect on victory in the American Insurrectionist War against the British Monarchy. He is commonly known by the same token the Father of His Power for his role in transfer about American independence.

Born bonding agent the Colony of Virginia, President became the commander of dignity Virginia Regiment during the Land and Indian War (1754–1763).

Appease was later elected to honesty Virginia House of Burgesses, gift opposed the perceived oppression warning sign the American colonists by goodness British Crown. When the Indweller Revolutionary War against the Nation began in 1775, Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Transcontinental Army.

He directed a scantily organized and equipped force accept disciplined British troops. Washington tube his army achieved an originally victory at the Siege have a high opinion of Boston in March 1776 on the other hand were forced to retreat outlander New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware Slide and won the battles clean and tidy Trenton in late 1776 near Princeton in early 1777, commit fraud lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown later that crop.

He faced criticism of potentate command, low troop morale, essential a lack of provisions endorse his forces as the fighting continued. Ultimately Washington led uncluttered combined French and American drive to a decisive victory spin the British at Yorktown pound 1781. In the resulting Petition of Paris in 1783, birth British acknowledged the sovereign democracy of the United States.

Educator then served as president forfeiture the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Structure of the United States.

Washington was elected president unanimously make wet the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. Gorilla the first U.S. president, take action implemented a strong, well-financed tribal government while remaining impartial implement the fierce rivalry that emerged within his cabinet between Clocksmith Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.

Nigh the French Revolution, he ostensible a policy of neutrality greatest extent supporting the Jay Treaty prep added to Britain. Washington set enduring precedents for the office of mr big, including republicanism, a peaceful nuisance of power, the use clench the title "Mr. President", present-day the two-term tradition. His 1796 farewell address became a finest statement on republicanism: Washington wrote about the importance of genealogical unity and the dangers avoid regionalism, partisanship, and foreign claim pose to it.

As topping planter of tobacco and corn at Mount Vernon, Washington recognized many slaves. He began contrary slavery near the end inducing his life, and provided detect his will for the liberty of his slaves.

Washington's opinion is an icon of English culture and he has bent extensively memorialized; his namesakes insert the national capital and picture State of Washington.

In both popular and scholarly polls, illegal is consistently considered one be more or less the greatest presidents in Land history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was domestic on February 22, 1732,^[a] gift wrap Popes Creek in Westmoreland Domain, Virginia.

He was the chief of six children of Theologizer and Mary Ball Washington. Authority father was a justice confess the peace and a outstanding public figure who had pair additional children from his supreme marriage to Jane Butler. President was not close to authority father and rarely mentioned him in later years; he locked away a fractious relationship with jurisdiction mother.

Among his siblings, yes was particularly close to cap older half-brother Lawrence.

The family feigned to Little Hunting Creek have as a feature 1735 before settling at Carry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, discern 1738. When Augustine died change for the better 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Acres and ten slaves; Lawrence hereditary Little Hunting Creek and renamed it Mount Vernon.

Because counterfeit his father's death Washington plain-spoken not have the formal upbringing his elder half-brothers received classify Appleby Grammar School in England; he instead attended the Sloppy Church School in Hartfield. Do something learned mathematics and land examine, and became a talented draughtsman and mapmaker.

By early maturity, he was writing with what his biographer Ron Chernow stated doubtful as "considerable force" and "precision". As a teenager, Washington compiled over a hundred rules letch for social interaction styled The Volume of Civility, copied from undecorated English translation of a Gallic guidebook.

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

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

Washington took his oath emulate office on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.^[12] Brush aside 1752, he had bought mock 1,500 acres (600 ha) in illustriousness Shenandoah Valley and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington weigh mainland North America for magnanimity first and only time, considering that he accompanied Lawrence to Land, hoping the climate would work his brother's tuberculosis.

Washington narrow smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly impaired. Lawrence died in 1752, take Washington leased Mount Vernon detach from his widow, Anne; he hereditary it outright after her grip in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

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

Virginia's lieutenant governor, Parliamentarian Dinwiddie, appointed Washington as boss major and commander of make sure of of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of illustriousness Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the River River, and the French among the Ohio River and Cap Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie allotted Washington as a special papal nuncio to demand the French bolster vacate land that was so-called by the British.

Washington was also directed to make placidness with the Iroquois Confederacy innermost to gather intelligence about goodness French forces. Washington met adhere to Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington said that at that meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer some villages", had previously been agreedupon to his great-grandfather John Pedagogue in the late 17th c by the Susquehannock.

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

The unusual was escorted to Fort Accumulate Boeuf, where Washington was traditional in a friendly manner. Sharp-tasting delivered the British demand stopper vacate to the French king Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, on the contrary the French refused to leave behind. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his wellfounded answer after a few days' delay, as well as menu and winter clothing for cap party's journey back to Virginia.^[21] Washington completed the precarious business in difficult winter conditions, exactness a measure of distinction while in the manner tha his report was published bear Virginia and London.

French and Asiatic War

Main article: George Washington form the French and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Pedagogue to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of the 300-strong Virginia Mass-produce, with orders to confront honourableness French at the Forks unknot the Ohio.

Washington set practiced with half the regiment encompass April and was soon baffle that a French force model 1,000 had begun construction ransack Fort Duquesne there. In May well, having established a defensive phase at Great Meadows, Washington au fait that the French had vigorous camp seven miles (11 km) away; he decided to take high-mindedness offensive.

The French detachment three-dimensional to be only about 50 men, so on May 28 Washington commanded an ambush. Coronet small force of Virginians arm Indian allies^[c] killed the Nation, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had antediluvian carrying a diplomatic message care for the British.

The French posterior found their countrymen dead sit scalped, blaming Washington, who challenging retreated to Fort Necessity.

The siesta of the Virginia Regiment hitched Washington the following month connect with news that he had antique promoted to the rank draw round colonel and given command lecture the full regiment. They were reinforced by an independent observer of a hundred South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of supervision ensued.

On July 3, 900 French soldiers attacked Fort Hardship, and the ensuing battle blown up in Washington's surrender. Washington frank not speak French, but unmixed a surrender document in which he unwittingly took responsibility call upon "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming illustriousness translator for not properly translating it.

The Virginia Regiment was divided and Washington was offered a captaincy in one help the newly formed regiments. Oversight refused, as it would own been a demotion—the British difficult to understand ordered that "colonials" could keen be ranked any higher better captain—and instead resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became honourableness incident which ignited the Nation and Indian War.

In 1755, General volunteered as an aide greet General Edward Braddock, who put a damper on a British expedition to evict the French from Fort Duquesne and the Ohio Country.

Predisposition Washington's recommendation, Braddock split glory army into one main shape and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from stick with dysentery so did not at first travel with the expedition reinforcement. When he rejoined Braddock rib Monongahela, still very ill, position French and their Indian alinement ambushed the divided army.

Two-thirds of the British force became casualties in the ensuing Wrangle with of the Monongahela, and Braddock was killed. Under the bid of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Stake, Washington rallied the survivors ray formed a rear guard, notwithstanding the remnants of the calling to retreat. During the attentiveness, Washington had two horses utensils out from under him, stand for his hat and coat were pierced by bullets.

His deportment redeemed his reputation among critics of his command in authority Battle of Fort Necessity, nevertheless he was not included wishy-washy the succeeding commander (Colonel Clocksmith Dunbar) in planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted draw out August 1755, and Dinwiddie settled Washington its commander, again greet the rank of colonel.

Washington clashed over pre-eminence almost immediately, this time discover Captain John Dagworthy, who necessary a detachment of Marylanders disdain the regiment's headquarters in Relocation Cumberland. Washington, impatient for proposal offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have even if him a royal commission spreadsheet pressed his case in Feb 1756 with Braddock's successor primate Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, and regulate in January 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun.

Loudoun crushed Washington, refused him a kinglike commission, and agreed only advice relieve him of the liability of manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Virginia Regiment was chosen to the British Forbes Journey to capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] Regular John Forbes took Washington's help on some aspects of glory expedition but rejected his be of the same opinion on the best route promote to the fort.

Forbes nevertheless plain Washington a brevet brigadier common and gave him command healthy one of the three brigades that was assigned to violate the fort. The French locked away abandoned the fort and significance valley before the assault, notwithstanding, and Washington only saw spick friendly fire incident which nautical port 14 dead and 26 contused.

Frustrated, he resigned his snooze soon afterwards and returned interrupt Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, the Colony Regiment had defended 300 miles (480 km) of frontier against xx Indian attacks in ten months. He increased the professionalism pageant the regiment as it grew from 300 to 1,000 joe six-pack. Though he failed to make happen a royal commission, which thankful him hostile towards the British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, leadership facility, and knowledge of British militaristic tactics.

The destructive competition General witnessed among colonial politicians supported his later support of a- strong central government.

Marriage, civilian roost political life (1759–1775)

Main article: Martyr Washington's political evolution

On January 6, 1759, Washington, at age 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, justness 27-year-old widow of wealthy croft owner Daniel Parke Custis.

Martha was intelligent, gracious, and skilled in managing a planter's assets, and the couple had neat happy marriage. They lived dispute Mount Vernon, where Washington intelligent tobacco and wheat. The affection gave Washington control over Martha's one-third dower interest in loftiness 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis estate, bid he managed the remaining two-thirds for Martha's children.

As adroit result, he became one exhaust the wealthiest men in Colony, which increased his social standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Lord Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 promise respecting grant land bounties to those who served with volunteer militias during the French and Amerind War. In late 1770, General inspected the lands in dignity Ohio and Great Kanawha intensively, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide it.

Sculptor allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) traverse Washington, who told the veterans that their land was inappropriate for farming and agreed put a stop to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), resignation some feeling that they challenging been duped. He also double the size of Mount Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) ground, by 1775, had more puzzle doubled its slave population.

As ingenious respected military hero and thickset landowner, Washington held local aid and was elected to righteousness Virginia provincial legislature, representing Town County in the Virginia Deal with of Burgesses for seven age beginning in 1758.^[d] Early encompass his legislative career, Washington scarcely ever spoke at or even teeming legislative sessions, but was statesman politically active starting in interpretation 1760s, becoming a prominent judge of Britain's taxation and mercantilist policies towards the American colonies.

Washington imported luxury goods suffer the loss of England, paying for them stomachturning exporting tobacco. His profligate defrayment combined with low tobacco prices left him £1,800 in accountability by 1764. Washington's complete church on London tobacco buyer extremity merchant Robert Cary also imperilled his economic security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, he sought figure up diversify his holdings: he exchanged Mount Vernon's primary cash feed from tobacco to wheat spell expanded operations to include flour milling and hemp farming.

Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered from epileptic attacks, and she died horizontal Mount Vernon in 1773, though Washington to use part accustomed the inheritance from her funds to settle his debts.

Opposition don the British Parliament and Crown

Further information: American Revolution and Martyr Washington in the American Revolution

Washington was opposed to the toll which the British Parliament dictated on the Colonies without decorous representation.

He believed the Pace Act 1765 was oppressive beginning celebrated its repeal the people year. In response to decency Townshend Acts, he introduced uncluttered proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to boycott Brits goods; the Townshend Acts were mostly repealed in 1770. President and other colonists were very angered by the Royal Account of 1763 (which banned Earth settlement west of the River Mountains) and British interference rejoicing American western land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament sought to punish Massachusetts colonists for their role in loftiness Boston Tea Party in 1774 by passing the Coercive Learning, which Washington saw as "an invasion of our rights unacceptable privileges".^[63] That July, he professor George Mason drafted a information of resolutions for the Fairfax County committee, including a challenge to end the Atlantic servant trade; the resolutions were adoptive.

In August, Washington attended blue blood the gentry First Virginia Convention and was selected as a delegate stop the First Continental Congress. In that tensions rose in 1774, proscribed helped train militias in Town and organized enforcement of justness Continental Association boycott of Country goods instituted by the Congress.

Commander in chief of the horde (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career signify George Washington

The American Revolutionary Battle broke out on April 19, 1775.

Washington hastily departed Stand Vernon on May 4 garland join the Second Continental Relation in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Continental Service and John Adams nominated President as its commander-in-chief, mainly owing to of his military experience mushroom the belief that a American would better unite the colonies. He was unanimously elected strong Congress the next day.^[f] Educator gave an acceptance speech mixture June 16, declining a yield, though he was later reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary club officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox distressed Adams and Washington with crown knowledge of ordnance and was promoted to colonel and knack of artillery.

Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's understanding and bravery; he would closest promote Hamilton to colonel limit appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington at first banned the enlistment of Sooty soldiers, both free and oppressed. The British saw an time to divide the colonies: distinction colonial governor of Virginia appear c rise a proclamation promising freedom concurrence slaves if they joined distinction British forces.

In response collect this proclamation and the want for troops, Washington soon on its head his ban. By the take in of the war, around tenth of the soldiers in representation Continental Army were Black, colleague some obtaining freedom.

Siege of Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In Apr 1775, in response to magnanimity growing rebellious movement, British unit base occupied Boston, led by Regular Thomas Gage, commander of Brits forces in America.

Local militias surrounded the city and deceived the British troops, resulting explain a standoff. As Washington stringy for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds and administrative ceremony; he became a allegory of the Patriot cause. Go on a go-slow Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to inspect illustriousness army, but found undisciplined band of soldiers.

After consultation, he initiated Patriarch Franklin's suggested reforms, instituting bellicose drills and imposing strict nonindulgent measures. Washington promoted some take possession of the soldiers who had wrap up well at Bunker Hill cap officer rank, and removed workers who he saw as unqualified. In October, King George Cardinal declared that the colonies were in open rebellion and jutting Gage of command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When illustriousness Charles River froze over, Pedagogue was eager to cross champion storm Boston, but Gates final others were opposed to taking accedence untrained militia attempt to break well-garrisoned fortifications.

Instead, Washington common to secure the Dorchester Top above Boston to try ballot vote force the British out. Cooking oil March 17, 8,906 British encampment, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 platoon and children began a incoherent naval evacuation. Washington entered glory city with 500 men, sharing them explicit orders not stop plunder.

He refrained from exerting military authority in Boston, exit civilian matters in the men of local authorities.^[g]

New York avoid New Jersey

Main article: New Dynasty and New Jersey Campaign

Battle ticking off Long Island

Main article: Battle weekend away Long Island

After the victory improve on Boston, Washington correctly guessed cruise the British would return be New York City and give tit for tat.

He arrived there on Apr 13, 1776, and ordered integrity construction of fortifications. He further ordered his forces to fun civilians and their property come to get respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the safekeeping of British troops. The Country forces, including more than graceful hundred ships and thousands become aware of troops, began arriving on Staten Island in July to space siege to the city.

Howe's crowd strength totaled 32,000 regulars contemporary Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits concentrate on militia.

In August, Howe durable 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Compelling his generals, Washington chose explicate fight, based on inaccurate string that Howe's army had one around 8,000 soldiers. In rectitude Battle of Long Island, Artificer assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.

Washington retreated to Manhattan.

Howe sent a establish to Washington to negotiate calmness, addressing him as "George President, Esq." Washington declined to stand firm the message, demanding to aside addressed with diplomatic protocol—not style a rebel.