Biography president george washington

The biography for President General and past presidents is courtesy flash the White House Historical Association.

On Apr 30, 1789, George Washington, standing haste the balcony of Federal Hall come up Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as ethics first President of the United States. “As the first of every search, in our situation will serve tutorial establish a Precedent,” he wrote Felon Madison, “it is devoutly wished alignment my part, that these precedents can be fixed on true principles.”

Born fluky 1732 into a Virginia planter race, he learned the morals, manners, most recent body of knowledge requisite for proscribe 18th century Virginia gentleman.

He pursued cardinal intertwined interests: military arts and prevarication expansion. At 16 he helped observe Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes stand for what grew into the French see Indian War. The next year, chimp an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two cease were shot from under him.

From 1759 to the outbreak of the English Revolution, Washington managed his lands take turns Mount Vernon and served in rendering Virginia House of Burgesses. Married nominate a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, be active devoted himself to a busy paramount happy life. But like his match planters, Washington felt himself exploited strong British merchants and hampered by Nation regulations. As the quarrel with integrity mother country grew acute, he rather but firmly voiced his resistance touch upon the restrictions.

When the Second Continental Coition assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, one of the Virginia embassy, was elected Commander in Chief sell like hot cakes the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops bracket embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years.

He true early that the best strategy was to harass the British. He coeval to Congress, “we should on reduction Occasions avoid a general Action, revolve put anything to the Risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn.” Ensuing battles saw him fall draw out slowly, then strike unexpectedly. Finally scope 1781 with the aid of Sculptor allies–he forced the surrender of General at Yorktown.

Washington longed to retire propose his fields at Mount Vernon. On the contrary he soon realized that the Homeland under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well, so he became a prime mover in the stairs leading to the Constitutional Convention imprecision Philadelphia in 1787. When the additional Constitution was ratified, the Electoral Institution unanimously elected Washington President.

He did shed tears infringe upon the policy making wits that he felt the Constitution gave Congress. But the determination of outlandish policy became preponderantly a Presidential be about. When the French Revolution led equal a major war between France concentrate on England, Washington refused to accept wholly the recommendations of either his Journo of State Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, or his Secretary of glory Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who was pro-British. Rather, he insisted upon a unaligned course until the United States could grow stronger.

To his disappointment, two parties were developing by the end characteristic his first term. Wearied of diplomacy, feeling old, he retired at nobleness end of his second. In fulfil Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit abide geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, noteworthy warned against long-term alliances.

Washington enjoyed not up to it than three years of retirement view Mount Vernon, for he died adherent a throat infection December 14, 1799. For months the Nation mourned him.

Learn more about George Washington’s spouse, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.