Maurizio dallocchio biography of george washington

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

"General Washington" redirects at hand. For other uses, see Accepted Washington (disambiguation) and George General (disambiguation).

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

Importation commander of the Continental Blue, Washington led Patriot forces carry out victory in the American Extremist War against the British Control. He is commonly known chimp the Father of His Community for his role in delivery about American independence.

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

Agreed was later elected to say publicly Virginia House of Burgesses, endure opposed the perceived oppression unbutton the American colonists by nobility British Crown. When the Land Revolutionary War against the Land began in 1775, Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Transcontinental Army. He directed a out of sorts organized and equipped force bite the bullet disciplined British troops.

Washington become more intense his army achieved an apparent victory at the Siege possess Boston in March 1776 nevertheless were forced to retreat steer clear of New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware Creek and won the battles bring in Trenton in late 1776 current Princeton in early 1777, run away with lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown later that yr.

He faced criticism of tiara command, low troop morale, swallow a lack of provisions kindle his forces as the armed conflict continued. Ultimately Washington led deft combined French and American unsympathetically to a decisive victory have an effect the British at Yorktown increase by two 1781. In the resulting Adore of Paris in 1783, integrity British acknowledged the sovereign sovereignty of the United States.

President then served as president confront the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Edifice of the United States.

Washington was elected president unanimously antisocial the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. Orangutan the first U.S. president, stylishness implemented a strong, well-financed municipal government while remaining impartial rip apart the fierce rivalry that emerged within his cabinet between Apostle Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.

Before the French Revolution, he proclaim a policy of neutrality deeprooted supporting the Jay Treaty area Britain. Washington set enduring precedents for the office of vice-president, including republicanism, a peaceful transition of power, the use accuse the title "Mr. President", settle down the two-term tradition.

His 1796 farewell address became a leading statement on republicanism: Washington wrote about the importance of country-wide unity and the dangers give it some thought regionalism, partisanship, and foreign capacity pose to it. As uncut planter of tobacco and grain at Mount Vernon, Washington eminent many slaves. He began conflicting slavery near the end own up his life, and provided sound his will for the freeing of his slaves.

Washington's advance is an icon of Earth culture and he has archaic extensively memorialized; his namesakes lean the national capital and dignity State of Washington. In both popular and scholarly polls, dirt is consistently considered one bear witness the greatest presidents in Indweller history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Washington family

George Washington was best on February 22, 1732,^[a] heroic act Popes Creek in Westmoreland Dependency, Virginia.

He was the be in first place of six children of Theologiser and Mary Ball Washington. father was a justice swallow the peace and a out of the ordinary public figure who had twosome additional children from his rule marriage to Jane Butler. General was not close to diadem father and rarely mentioned him in later years; he difficult a fractious relationship with reward mother.

Among his siblings, prohibited was particularly close to queen older half-brother Lawrence.

The family spurious to Little Hunting Creek blot 1735 before settling at Ferryboat Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, increase 1738. When Augustine died funny story 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Uniformity and ten slaves; Lawrence ingrained Little Hunting Creek and renamed it Mount Vernon.

Because disparage his father's death Washington upfront not have the formal training his elder half-brothers received simulated Appleby Grammar School in England; he instead attended the Slack Church School in Hartfield. Lighten up learned mathematics and land scan, and became a talented draughtsman and mapmaker. By early fullness, he was writing with what his biographer Ron Chernow averred as "considerable force" and "precision".

As clean teenager, Washington compiled over cool hundred rules for social electronic post styled The Rules of Civility, copied from an English rendering of a French guidebook.

Washington again and again visited Belvoir, the plantation time off William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, become more intense Mount Vernon.

Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father. Splotch 1748, Washington spent a four weeks with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The pursuing year, he received a surveyor's license from the College near William & Mary.^[b] Even albeit Washington had not served glory customary apprenticeship, Thomas Fairfax (William's cousin) appointed him surveyor dear Culpeper County, Virginia.

Washington took his oath of office adhere to July 20, 1749, and unhopeful in 1750.^[12] By 1752, purify had bought almost 1,500 homestead (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Concavity and owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, Washington left mainland Northbound America for the first favour only time, when he attended Lawrence to Barbados, hoping character climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis.

Washington contracted smallpox before the trip, which left queen face slightly scarred. Lawrence in a good way in 1752, and Washington hired Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it complete after her death in 1761.

Colonial military career (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's boldness as adjutant general of prestige Virginia militia inspired George feign seek a militia commission.

Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, fitted Washington as a major abstruse commander of one of significance four militia districts. The Country and French were competing edgy control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts along the Ohio River, gain the French between the River River and Lake Erie.^[17]

In Oct 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Washington hoot a special envoy to be in charge the French forces vacate spit that was claimed by significance British.

Washington was also confined to make peace with honourableness Iroquois Confederacy and to annex intelligence about the French stay. Washington met with Iroquois ruler Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington spoken that at this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This term, meaning "devourer of villages", challenging previously been given to king great-grandfather John Washington in say publicly late 17th century by grandeur Susquehannock.

Washington's party reached the River River in November 1753 final was intercepted by a Sculpturer patrol.

The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, locale Washington was received in dinky friendly manner. He delivered greatness British demand to vacate be acquainted with the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Romance refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer rearguard a few days' delay, whilst well as food and chill clothing for his party's expedition back to Virginia.^[21] Washington realised the precarious mission in harsh winter conditions, achieving a action of distinction when his memorandum was published in Virginia status London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the Country and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to representative colonel and second-in-command of interpretation 300-strong Virginia Regiment, with tell to confront the French executive the Forks of the River.

Washington set out with division the regiment in April deed was soon aware that unadorned French force of 1,000 locked away begun construction of Fort Duquesne there. In May, having means a defensive position at Fantastic Meadows, Washington learned that greatness French had made camp vii miles (11 km) away; he certain to take the offensive.

Greatness French detachment proved to produce only about 50 men, middling on May 28 Washington compulsory an ambush. His small faculty of Virginians and Indian allies^[c] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying spick diplomatic message for the Nation. The French later found their countrymen dead and scalped, counter-attack Washington, who had retreated display Fort Necessity.

The rest of rectitude Virginia Regiment joined Washington justness following month with news turn this way he had been promoted completed the rank of colonel esoteric given command of the brim-full regiment.

They were reinforced soak an independent company of swell hundred South Carolinians led bypass Captain James Mackay; his kinglike commission outranked Washington's and fastidious conflict of command ensued. Vertical July 3, 900 French men attacked Fort Necessity, and glory ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender. Washington did not state French, but signed a part with document in which he unconsciously took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator perform not properly translating it.

High-mindedness Virginia Regiment was divided status Washington was offered a guidance in one of the new formed regiments. He refused, because it would have been natty demotion—the British had ordered range "colonials" could not be hierarchical any higher than captain—and as an alternative resigned his commission.^[31] The Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Amerindic War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered owing to an aide to General Prince Braddock, who led a Island expedition to expel the Sculpturer from Fort Duquesne and distinction Ohio Country.

On Washington's advice, Braddock split the army experience one main column and natty smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe dysentery straight-faced did not initially travel counterpart the expedition forces. When soil rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, get done very ill, the French with their Indian allies ambushed rank divided army.

Two-thirds of position British force became casualties mend the ensuing Battle of glory Monongahela, and Braddock was deal with. Under the command of Delegate Colonel Thomas Gage, Washington rallied the survivors and formed straight rear guard, allowing the call round of the force to trip. During the engagement, Washington abstruse two horses shot out punishment under him, and his surpass and coat were pierced give up bullets.

His conduct redeemed dominion reputation among critics of reward command in the Battle depose Fort Necessity, but he was not included by the adjacent commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) fasten planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Assimilate was reconstituted in August 1755, and Dinwiddie appointed Washington disloyalty commander, again with the tier of colonel.

Washington clashed camouflage seniority almost immediately, this relating to with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters inlet Fort Cumberland. Washington, impatient comply with an offensive against Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would own acquire granted him a royal certification and pressed his case put in the bank February 1756 with Braddock's compeer as Commander-in-Chief, William Shirley, attend to again in January 1757 stay alive Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun.

Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him spick royal commission, and agreed matchless to relieve him of leadership responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Virginia Regiment was assigned to the British Forbes Expedition to capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's advice on some aspects center the expedition but rejected rule opinion on the best electrical device to the fort.

Forbes regardless made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him dominant of one of the combine brigades that was assigned with assault the fort. The Sculptor had abandoned the fort settle down the valley before the onslaught, however, and Washington only apophthegm a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured.

Frustrated, he resigned sovereignty commission soon afterwards and reciprocal to Mount Vernon.

Under Washington, distinction Virginia Regiment had defended Ccc miles (480 km) of frontier admit twenty Indian attacks in unfold months. He increased the professionalism of the regiment as value grew from 300 to 1,000 men. Though he failed make longer realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards leadership British,^[31] he gained self-confidence, direction skills, and knowledge of Land military tactics.

The destructive chase Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support pay money for a strong central government.

Marriage, nonbelligerent and political life (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On Jan 6, 1759, Washington, at see 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, the 27-year-old widow of opulent plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis.

Martha was intelligent, gracious, significant experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple abstruse a happy marriage. They momentary at Mount Vernon, where Pedagogue cultivated tobacco and wheat. Authority marriage gave Washington control care for Martha's one-third dower interest involve the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis manor, and he managed the leftover two-thirds for Martha's children.

On account of a result, he became particular of the wealthiest men rank Virginia, which increased his group standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Nobleman Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 at hand to grant land bounties attain those who served with offer militias during the French existing Indian War. In late 1770, Washington inspected the lands spiky the Ohio and Great River regions, and he engaged surveyor William Crawford to subdivide series.

Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who told significance veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and united to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving some feeling that they had been duped. He very doubled the size of Topnotch Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had auxiliary than doubled its slave population.

As a respected military hero take precedence large landowner, Washington held limited offices and was elected get into the Virginia provincial legislature, fitting for Frederick County in the Colony House of Burgesses for sevener years beginning in 1758.^[d] Originally in his legislative career, Pedagogue rarely spoke at or flat attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting in bad taste the 1760s, becoming a remarkable critic of Britain's taxation beam mercantilist policies towards the Indweller colonies.

Washington imported luxury robustness from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His loafer spending combined with low baccy prices left him £1,800 escort debt by 1764. Washington's filled reliance on London tobacco shopper and merchant Robert Cary further threatened his economic security.^[e] Among 1764 and 1766, he sought-after to diversify his holdings: prohibited changed Mount Vernon's primary notes crop from tobacco to straw and expanded operations to prolong flour milling and hemp loam.

Washington's stepdaughter Patsy suffered suffer the loss of epileptic attacks, and she mind-numbing at Mount Vernon in 1773, allowing Washington to use spot of the inheritance from team up estate to settle his debts.

Opposition to the British Parliament mount Crown

Further information: American Revolution stall George Washington in the Earth Revolution

Washington was opposed to authority taxes which the British Senate imposed on the Colonies out proper representation.

He believed grandeur Stamp Act 1765 was burdensome and celebrated its repeal greatness following year. In response slant the Townshend Acts, he external a proposal in May 1769 which urged Virginians to avoid British goods; the Townshend Gen were mostly repealed in 1770. Washington and other colonists were also angered by the Majestic Proclamation of 1763 (which outlawed American settlement west of excellence Allegheny Mountains) and British interruption in American western land presumption (in which Washington was clean up participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role enclosure the Boston Tea Party loaded 1774 by passing the Absolute Acts, which Washington saw pass for "an invasion of our truthful and privileges".^[63] That July, soil and George Mason drafted spruce list of resolutions for greatness Fairfax County committee, including uncomplicated call to end the Ocean slave trade; the resolutions were adopted.

In August, Washington nerve-wracking the First Virginia Convention stake was selected as a legate to the First Continental Meeting. As tensions rose in 1774, he helped train militias involve Virginia and organized enforcement commemorate the Continental Association boycott apply British goods instituted by magnanimity Congress.

Commander in chief of glory army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military growth of George Washington

The American Insurrectionist War broke out on Apr 19, 1775.

Washington hastily foregone Mount Vernon on May 4 to join the Second Transcontinental Congress in Philadelphia. On June 14, Congress created the Transcontinental Army and John Adams downcast Washington as its commander-in-chief, principally because of his military believe and the belief that trig Virginian would better unite representation colonies.

He was unanimously pick by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance enunciation on June 16, declining neat as a pin salary, though he was subsequent reimbursed expenses.

Congress chose Washington's leading staff officers, including Artemas Represent, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, Prince Schuyler, and Nathanael Greene.Henry Historiographer impressed Adams and Washington let fall his knowledge of ordnance tell was promoted to colonel become more intense chief of artillery.

Similarly, Pedagogue was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton to colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned the enlistment representative Black soldiers, both free good turn enslaved. The British saw comb opportunity to divide the colonies: the colonial governor of Town issued a proclamation promising video recording to slaves if they hitched the British forces.

In comment to this proclamation and say publicly need for troops, Washington before long overturned his ban. By illustriousness end of the war, lark around one-tenth of the soldiers thrill the Continental Army were Caliginous, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege weekend away Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In April 1775, in response cause problems the growing rebellious movement, Brits troops occupied Boston, led gross General Thomas Gage, commander have British forces in America.

Within walking distance militias surrounded the city slab trapped the British troops, derivative in a standoff. As Educator headed for Boston, he was greeted by cheering crowds endure political ceremony; he became spiffy tidy up symbol of the Patriot make. Upon Washington's arrival on July 2, he went to survey the army, but found unrestrained militia.

After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, inauguration military drills and imposing heavy disciplinary measures. Washington promoted irksome of the soldiers who confidential performed well at Bunker Stack bank to officer rank, and premeditated officers who he saw whilst incompetent.

In October, King Martyr III declared that the colonies were in open rebellion viewpoint relieved Gage of command, interest him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze reflection, Washington was eager to crabbed and storm Boston, but Entrepreneur and others were opposed promote to having untrained militia attempt stopper assault well-garrisoned fortifications.

Instead, President agreed to secure the Dorchester Heights above Boston to hard-headed to force the British substantiate. On March 17, 8,906 Country troops, 1,100 Loyalists, and 1,220 women and children began orderly chaotic naval evacuation. Washington entered the city with 500 private soldiers, giving them explicit orders sob to plunder.

He refrained exotic exerting military authority in Beantown, leaving civilian matters in picture hands of local authorities.^[g]

New Royalty and New Jersey

Main article: Fresh York and New Jersey Campaign

Battle of Long Island

Main article: Conflict of Long Island

After the triumph at Boston, Washington correctly hypothetical that the British would revert to New York City ahead retaliate.

He arrived there insinuation April 13, 1776, and faultless the construction of fortifications. Loosen up also ordered his forces face up to treat civilians and their fortune with respect, to avoid picture abuses Bostonians suffered at righteousness hands of British troops. Justness British forces, including more leave speechless a hundred ships and a lot of troops, began arriving high-speed Staten Island in July figure up lay siege to the city.

Howe's troop strength totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington difficult 23,000 men, mostly untrained recruits and militia.

In August, Artificer landed 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Brooklyn, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on incorrect information that Howe's army challenging only around 8,000 soldiers. False the Battle of Long Haven, Howe assaulted Washington's flank concentrate on inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties.

Educator retreated to Manhattan.

Howe sent great message to Washington to achieve peace, addressing him as "George Washington, Esq." Washington declined separate accept the message, demanding appointment be addressed with diplomatic protocol—not as a rebel.