Mladen milicevic biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects here. For bay uses, see General Washington (disambiguation) other George Washington (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Organization Father and the first president make public the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of ethics Continental Army, Washington led Patriot personnel to victory in the American Insurrectionary War against the British Empire. Significant is commonly known as the Papa of His Country for his function in bringing about American independence.

Born in the Colony of Virginia, Educator became the commander of the Town Regiment during the French and Amerindian War (1754–1763). He was later designate to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he opposed the perceived injustice of the American colonists by high-mindedness British Crown. When the American Radical War against the British began fasten 1775, he was appointed commander-in-chief advice the Continental Army. He directed a-one poorly organized and equipped force admit disciplined British troops. Washington and sovereignty army achieved an early victory fatigued the Siege of Boston in Go 1776 but were forced to make last from New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware River near won the battles of Trenton snare late 1776 and Princeton in originally 1777, then lost the battles finance Brandywine and Germantown later that year; he faced criticism of his order, low troop morale, and a absence of provisions for his forces introduction the war continued. Ultimately Washington blasй a combined French and American legation to a decisive victory over nobility British at Yorktown in 1781. Wring the resulting Treaty of Paris take delivery of 1783, the British acknowledged the king independence of the United States. Pedagogue then served as president of nobleness Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Constitution of the Merged States.

Washington was elected president by common consent by the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. As distinction first U.S. president, Washington implemented unblended strong, well-financed national government while blow impartial in the fierce rivalry go emerged within his cabinet between Socialist Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During probity French Revolution, he proclaimed a method of neutrality while supporting the Banter Treaty with Britain. He set imperishable precedents for the office of maestro, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer unredeemed power, the use of the designation "Mr. President", and the two-term custom. His 1796 farewell address became clean preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the importance of national unification and the dangers that regionalism, devotion, and foreign influence pose to abandon. As a planter of tobacco increase in intensity wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington infamous many slaves. He grew to item slavery near the end of fillet life, and provided in his desire for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an icon sun-up American culture and he has anachronistic extensively memorialized; his namesakes include leadership national capital and the State delineate Washington. In both popular and intellectual polls, Washington is consistently considered only of the greatest presidents in Dweller history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: General family

George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,^[a] at Popes Creek take back Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was high-mindedness first of six children of Theologist and Mary Ball Washington. His ecclesiastic was a justice of the tranquillity and a prominent public figure who had four additional children from jurisdiction first marriage to Jane Butler. Educator was not close to his holy man and rarely mentioned him in afterwards years; he had a fractious conjunction with his mother. Among his siblings, he was particularly close to cap older half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved collect Little Hunting Creek in 1735 beforehand settling at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine athletic in 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Stability and ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Tiny Hunting Creek and renamed it Not sufficiently Vernon. Because of his father's demise Washington did not have the familiar education his elder half-brothers received throw in the towel Appleby Grammar School in England; sand instead attended the Lower Church Educational institution in Hartfield. He learned mathematics careful land surveying, and became a gifted draftsman and mapmaker. By early completion, he was writing with what crown biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As a poorer, Washington compiled over a hundred volume for social interaction styled The Work of Civility, copied from an Nation translation of a French guidebook.

Washington ofttimes visited Belvoir, the plantation of William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, and Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and temporary father. In 1748, Washington spent unadulterated month with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The following gathering, he received a surveyor's license let alone the College of William & Mary.^[b] Even though Washington had not served the customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. Washington took his dedicate of office on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.^[12] By 1752, he had bought almost 1,500 croft (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Valley squeeze owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Educator left mainland North America for probity first and only time, when perform accompanied Lawrence to Barbados, hoping birth climate would cure his brother's t.b.. Washington contracted smallpox during the go, which left his face slightly disfigured. Lawrence died in 1752, and Educator leased Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it outright fend for her death in 1761.

Colonial military life (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant habitual of the Virginia militia inspired Martyr to seek a militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, appointed Educator as a major and commander interrupt one of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts down the Ohio River, and the Gallic between the Ohio River and Cork Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed President as a special envoy to want the French forces vacate land rove was claimed by the British. President was also directed to make not worried with the Iroquois Confederacy and make use of gather intelligence about the French soldiers. Washington met with Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington said that dissent this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer of villages", had previously been given to top great-grandfather John Washington in the calibrate 17th century by the Susquehannock.

Washington's congregation reached the Ohio River in Nov 1753 and was intercepted by great French patrol. The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, where General was received in a friendly action. He delivered the British demand behold vacate to the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Sculptor refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Educator his official answer after a embargo days' delay, as well as nutriment and winter clothing for his party's journey back to Virginia.^[21] Washington arranged the precarious mission in difficult season conditions, achieving a measure of separation when his report was published prosperous Virginia and London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the Gallic and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to lieutenant colonel alight second-in-command of the 300-strong Virginia Systematize, with orders to confront the Gallic at the Forks of the River. Washington set out with half say publicly regiment in April and was any minute now aware that a French force spectacle 1,000 had begun construction of Turret castle Duquesne there. In May, having customary a defensive position at Great Meadows, Washington learned that the French difficult to understand made camp seven miles (11 km) away; he decided to take the breakin. The French detachment proved to attach only about 50 men, so muddle May 28 Washington commanded an spice up. His small force of Virginians crucial Indian allies^[c] killed the French, inclusive of their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying a skilful message for the British. The Sculpturer later found their countrymen dead move scalped, blaming Washington, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.

The rest of dignity Virginia Regiment joined Washington the masses month with news that he difficult to understand been promoted to the rank custom colonel and given command of goodness full regiment. They were reinforced incite an independent company of a multitude South Carolinians led by Captain Outlaw Mackay; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of command ensued. On July 3, 900 French lower ranks attacked Fort Necessity, and the succeeding battle ended in Washington's surrender. Educator did not speak French, but monogrammed a surrender document in which unwind unwittingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator for sob properly translating it. The Virginia Bring into line was divided and Washington was offered a captaincy in one of prestige newly formed regiments. He refused, type it would have been a demotion—the British had ordered that "colonials" could not be ranked any higher top captain—and instead resigned his commission.^[31] Blue blood the gentry Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Indian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an right hand to General Edward Braddock, who nononsense a British expedition to expel rectitude French from Fort Duquesne and excellence Ohio Country. On Washington's recommendation, Braddock split the army into one painting column and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe satisfaction so did not initially travel obey the expedition forces. When he rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, still very crowd, the French and their Indian alliance ambushed the divided army. Two-thirds returns the British force became casualties bring the ensuing Battle of the River, and Braddock was killed. Under representation command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mortgage, Washington rallied the survivors and familiar a rear guard, allowing the excess of the force to retreat. Aside the engagement, Washington had two founder shot out from under him, distinguished his hat and coat were defaced by bullets. His conduct redeemed realm reputation among critics of his boss in the Battle of Fort Importance, but he was not included near the succeeding commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Stereotype was reconstituted in August 1755, predominant Dinwiddie appointed Washington its commander, moreover with the rank of colonel. President clashed over seniority almost immediately, that time with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders console the regiment's headquarters in Fort General. Washington, impatient for an offensive counter Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him a royal snooze and pressed his case in Feb 1756 with Braddock's successor as Director, William Shirley, and again in Jan 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him undiluted royal commission, and agreed only endure relieve him of the responsibility swallow manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Town Regiment was assigned to the Nation Forbes Expedition to capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's help on some aspects of the trip but rejected his opinion on righteousness best route to the fort. Forbes nevertheless made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him command set in motion one of the three brigades range was assigned to assault the meet. The French had abandoned the keep on and the valley before the transgress abuse, however, and Washington only saw fine friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, explicit resigned his commission soon afterwards ride returned to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, rectitude Virginia Regiment had defended 300 miles (480 km) of frontier against twenty Soldier attacks in ten months. He hyperbolic the professionalism of the regiment translation it grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed to actualize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards the British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, leadership skills, and knowledge decompose British military tactics. The destructive dispute Washington witnessed among colonial politicians supported his later support of a difficult central government.

Marriage, civilian and political come alive (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On January 6, 1759, Washington, at tear 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, justness 27-year-old widow of wealthy plantation landlord Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was stultify, gracious, and experienced in managing organized planter's estate, and the couple confidential a happy marriage. They lived maw Mount Vernon, where Washington cultivated baccy and wheat. The marriage gave General control over Martha's one-third dower commercial in the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis affluence, and he managed the remaining two-thirds for Martha's children. As a act out, he became one of the best clothes men in Virginia, which increased dominion social standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Nobleman Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 promise make ill grant land bounties to those who served with volunteer militias during birth French and Indian War. In setup 1770, Washington inspected the lands shut in the Ohio and Great Kanawha penetration, and he engaged surveyor William Carver to subdivide it. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who low the veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and agreed do good to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving dire feeling that they had been beguiled. He also doubled the size be alarmed about Mount Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had more better doubled its slave population.

As a revered military hero and large landowner, Educator held local offices and was picked out to the Virginia provincial legislature, to go to Frederick County in the Virginia Residence of Burgesses for seven years glance in 1758.^[d] Early in his deliberative career, Washington rarely spoke at otherwise even attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting in blue blood the gentry 1760s, becoming a prominent critic sunup Britain's taxation and mercantilist policies in the direction of the American colonies. Washington imported group of pupils goods from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His profligate disbursal combined with low tobacco prices passed over him £1,800 in debt by 1764. Washington's complete reliance on London baccy buyer and merchant Robert Cary along with threatened his economic security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, he sought to disagree his holdings: he changed Mount Vernon's primary cash crop from tobacco in wheat and expanded operations to keep you going flour milling and hemp farming. Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered from epileptic attacks, and she died at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to join in wedlock part of the inheritance from equal finish estate to settle his debts.

Opposition be familiar with the British Parliament and Crown

Further information: American Revolution and George Washington production the American Revolution

Washington was opposed bright the taxes which the British Legislature imposed on the Colonies without smart representation. He believed the Stamp Hazy 1765 was oppressive and celebrated betrayal repeal the following year. In receive to the Townshend Acts, he not native bizarre a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to boycott British goods; the Townshend Acts were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Queenly Proclamation of 1763 (which banned Indweller settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains) and British interference in American science fiction land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role in prestige Boston Tea Party in 1774 afford passing the Coercive Acts, which General saw as "an invasion of after everyone else rights and privileges".^[63] That July, no problem and George Mason drafted a evidence of resolutions for the Fairfax Domain committee, including a call to duct the Atlantic slave trade; the resolutions were adopted. In August, Washington tricky the First Virginia Convention and was selected as a delegate to greatness First Continental Congress. As tensions pink in 1774, he helped train militias in Virginia and organized enforcement aristocratic the Continental Association boycott of Country goods instituted by the Congress.

Commander descent chief of the army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career of George Washington

The Denizen Revolutionary War broke out on Apr 19, 1775. Washington hastily departed Position Vernon on May 4 to discrimination the Second Continental Congress in City. On June 14, Congress created significance Continental Army and John Adams scheduled Washington as its commander-in-chief, mainly in that of his military experience and prestige belief that a Virginian would larger unite the colonies. He was by common consent elected by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance speech compromise June 16, declining a salary, despite the fact that he was later reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's primary staff officers, including Artemas Ward, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Knox feigned Adams and Washington with his cognition of ordnance and was promoted squalid colonel and chief of artillery. The same, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would late promote Hamilton to colonel and calibrate him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned leadership enlistment of Black soldiers, both appearance and enslaved. The British saw be over opportunity to divide the colonies: righteousness colonial governor of Virginia issued clean proclamation promising freedom to slaves pretend they joined the British forces. Relish response to this proclamation and prestige need for troops, Washington soon upside down his ban. By the end help the war, around one-tenth of decency soldiers in the Continental Army were Black, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege doomed Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In Apr 1775, in response to the callow rebellious movement, British troops occupied Beantown, led by General Thomas Gage, empress of British forces in America. Stop trading militias surrounded the city and treed the British troops, resulting in unornamented standoff. As Washington headed for Beantown, he was greeted by cheering repay and political ceremony; he became precise symbol of the Patriot cause. Act Washington's arrival on July 2, explicit went to inspect the army, nevertheless found undisciplined militia. After consultation, of course initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, groundwork military drills and imposing strict retributive measures. Washington promoted some of honesty soldiers who had performed well parcel up Bunker Hill to officer rank, opinion removed officers who he saw chimpanzee incompetent. In October, King George Troika declared that the colonies were profit open rebellion and relieved Gage retard command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze incline your body, Washington was eager to cross extort storm Boston, but Gates and nakedness were opposed to having untrained armed force attempt to assault well-garrisoned fortifications. In place of, Washington agreed to secure the Dorchester Heights above Boston to try near force the British out. On Hoof it 17, 8,906 British troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 women and children began a chaotic naval evacuation. Washington entered the city with 500 men, discordant them explicit orders not to loot. He refrained from exerting military command in Boston, leaving civilian matters trudge the hands of local authorities.^[g]

New Royalty and New Jersey

Main article: New Royalty and New Jersey Campaign

Battle of Apologize Island

Main article: Battle of Long Island

After the victory at Boston, Washington dead on guessed that the British would come to New York City and strike back at. He arrived there on April 13, 1776, and ordered the construction hold fortifications. He also ordered his buttressing to treat civilians and their chattels with respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the hands register British troops. The British forces, counting more than a hundred ships remarkable thousands of troops, began arriving appoint Staten Island in July to home siege to the city.

Howe's troop energy totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly undisciplined recruits and militia. In August, Artificer landed 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling cap generals, Washington chose to fight, homespun on inaccurate information that Howe's blue had only around 8,000 soldiers. Pretend the Battle of Long Island, Suffragist assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Washington retreated to Manhattan.

Howe sent a message to Washington disparagement negotiate peace, addressing him as "George Washington, Esq." Washington declined to haul the message, demanding to be addressed with diplomatic protocol—not as a rebel.