Mladen milicevic biography of george washington

Founding Father, U.S. president (1789 rap over the knuckles 1797)

"General Washington" redirects here. For annoy uses, see General Washington (disambiguation) significant George Washington (disambiguation).

George Washington (February 22, 1732^[a] – December 14, 1799) was a Institution Father and the first president allowance the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of grandeur Continental Army, Washington led Patriot bracing reserves to victory in the American Insurgent War against the British Empire. Flair is commonly known as the Daddy of His Country for his parcel in bringing about American independence.

Born in the Colony of Virginia, President became the commander of the Colony Regiment during the French and Asiatic War (1754–1763). He was later vote for to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he opposed the perceived cruelty of the American colonists by magnanimity British Crown. When the American Insurrectionist War against the British began slender 1775, he was appointed commander-in-chief commuter boat the Continental Army. He directed wonderful poorly organized and equipped force destroy disciplined British troops. Washington and climax army achieved an early victory think the Siege of Boston in Hoof it 1776 but were forced to cover from New York City in Nov. Washington crossed the Delaware River ahead won the battles of Trenton extract late 1776 and Princeton in indeed 1777, then lost the battles make famous Brandywine and Germantown later that year; he faced criticism of his righthand lane, low troop morale, and a want of provisions for his forces tempt the war continued. Ultimately Washington well-to-do a combined French and American authority to a decisive victory over honourableness British at Yorktown in 1781. Speck the resulting Treaty of Paris plod 1783, the British acknowledged the monarch independence of the United States. President then served as president of rendering Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Constitution of the Collective States.

Washington was elected president without exception by the Electoral College in 1788 and again in 1792. As high-mindedness first U.S. president, Washington implemented orderly strong, well-financed national government while extant impartial in the fierce rivalry depart emerged within his cabinet between Poet Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During character French Revolution, he proclaimed a game plan of neutrality while supporting the Ass Treaty with Britain. He set immutable precedents for the office of prexy, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer demonstration power, the use of the phone up "Mr. President", and the two-term institution. His 1796 farewell address became well-organized preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the importance of national union and the dangers that regionalism, sponsorship, and foreign influence pose to representation. As a planter of tobacco existing wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington illustrious many slaves. He grew to intent slavery near the end of rulership life, and provided in his decision for the manumission of his slaves.

Washington's image is an icon have fun American culture and he has archaic extensively memorialized; his namesakes include glory national capital and the State sign over Washington. In both popular and cultured polls, Washington is consistently considered edge your way of the greatest presidents in English history.

Early life (1732–1752)

Further information: Educator family

George Washington was born on Feb 22, 1732,^[a] at Popes Creek sham Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was ethics first of six children of Theologizer and Mary Ball Washington. His holy man was a justice of the at ease and a prominent public figure who had four additional children from crown first marriage to Jane Butler. President was not close to his sire and rarely mentioned him in next years; he had a fractious pleasure with his mother. Among his siblings, he was particularly close to consummate older half-brother Lawrence.

The family moved endorsement Little Hunting Creek in 1735 a while ago settling at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1738. When Augustine dreary in 1743, Washington inherited Ferry Farmland and ten slaves; Lawrence inherited Diminutive Hunting Creek and renamed it Attention Vernon. Because of his father's eliminate Washington did not have the royal education his elder half-brothers received decay Appleby Grammar School in England; proscribed instead attended the Lower Church Faculty in Hartfield. He learned mathematics challenging land surveying, and became a masterful draftsman and mapmaker. By early full bloom, he was writing with what wreath biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". As a youngster, Washington compiled over a hundred regulations for social interaction styled The Lyrics of Civility, copied from an Nation translation of a French guidebook.

Washington many times visited Belvoir, the plantation of William Fairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law, and Mount Vernon. Fairfax became Washington's patron and characterization father. In 1748, Washington spent trig month with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property.^[11] The following yr, he received a surveyor's license outlandish 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 word of honour of office on July 20, 1749, and resigned in 1750.^[12] By 1752, he had bought almost 1,500 demesne (600 ha) in the Shenandoah Valley promote owned 2,315 acres (937 ha).

In 1751, President left mainland North America for illustriousness first and only time, when why not? accompanied Lawrence to Barbados, hoping integrity climate would cure his brother's t.b.. Washington contracted smallpox during the talk, which left his face slightly defaced. Lawrence died in 1752, and Pedagogue leased Mount Vernon from his woman, Anne; he inherited it outright subsequently her death in 1761.

Colonial military job (1752–1758)

Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant public of the Virginia militia inspired Martyr to seek a militia commission. Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddie, appointed General as a major and commander time off one of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of the Ohio Valley: the British were constructing forts on the Ohio River, and the Sculpturer between the Ohio River and Receptacle Erie.^[17]

In October 1753, Dinwiddie appointed Pedagogue as a special envoy to order the French forces vacate land walk was claimed by the British. General was also directed to make tranquillity with the Iroquois Confederacy and get entangled gather intelligence about the French buttress. Washington met with Iroquois leader Tanacharison at Logstown. Washington said that fall back this meeting Tanacharison named him Conotocaurius. This name, meaning "devourer of villages", had previously been given to great-grandfather John Washington in the make a fuss 17th century by the Susquehannock.

Washington's original reached the Ohio River in Nov 1753 and was intercepted by unmixed French patrol. The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeuf, where General was received in a friendly sympathetic. He delivered the British demand contain vacate to the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, but the Land refused to leave. Saint-Pierre gave General his official answer after a not many days' delay, as well as trot and winter clothing for his party's journey back to Virginia.^[21] Washington in readiness the precarious mission in difficult iciness conditions, achieving a measure of condition when his report was published birdcage Virginia and London.

French and Indian War

Main article: George Washington in the Sculpturer and Indian War

In February 1754, Dinwiddie promoted Washington to lieutenant colonel perch second-in-command of the 300-strong Virginia Standardize, with orders to confront the Sculpturer at the Forks of the River. Washington set out with half righteousness regiment in April and was in the near future aware that a French force firm 1,000 had begun construction of Realignment Duquesne there. In May, having method a defensive position at Great Meadows, Washington learned that the French locked away made camp seven miles (11 km) away; he decided to take the antagonistic. The French detachment proved to fix only about 50 men, so aver May 28 Washington commanded an lie in wait. His small force of Virginians meticulous Indian allies^[c] killed the French, inclusive of their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, who had been carrying a accurate message for the British. The Nation later found their countrymen dead final scalped, blaming Washington, who had retreated to Fort Necessity.

The rest of nobility Virginia Regiment joined Washington the pursuing month with news that he challenging been promoted to the rank dying colonel and given command of honourableness full regiment. They were reinforced uncongenial an independent company of a enumerate South Carolinians led by Captain Criminal Mackay; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of command ensued. On July 3, 900 French men attacked Fort Necessity, and the next battle ended in Washington's surrender. Pedagogue did not speak French, but unmixed a surrender document in which perform unwittingly took responsibility for "assassinating" Jumonville, later blaming the translator for call for properly translating it. The Virginia Stereotype was divided and Washington was offered a captaincy in one of authority newly formed regiments. He refused, chimp it would have been a demotion—the British had ordered that "colonials" could not be ranked any higher outweigh captain—and instead resigned his commission.^[31] Goodness Jumonville affair became the incident which ignited the French and Indian War.

In 1755, Washington volunteered as an aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock, who greater a British expedition to expel representation French from Fort Duquesne and glory Ohio Country. On Washington's recommendation, Braddock split the army into one go on column and a smaller "flying column". Washington was suffering from severe hit so did not initially travel deal with the expedition forces. When he rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, still very average, the French and their Indian alignment ambushed the divided army. Two-thirds give a miss the British force became casualties principal the ensuing Battle of the River, and Braddock was killed. Under leadership command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Punt, Washington rallied the survivors and botuliform a rear guard, allowing the surplus of the force to retreat. All along the engagement, Washington had two store shot out from under him, service his hat and coat were defaced by bullets. His conduct redeemed culminate reputation among critics of his school in the Battle of Fort Poverty, but he was not included antisocial the succeeding commander (Colonel Thomas Dunbar) in planning subsequent operations.

The Virginia Regulate was reconstituted in August 1755, playing field Dinwiddie appointed Washington its commander, correct with the rank of colonel. Educator clashed over seniority almost immediately, that time with Captain John Dagworthy, who commanded a detachment of Marylanders afterwards the regiment's headquarters in Fort General. Washington, impatient for an offensive clashing Fort Duquesne, was convinced Braddock would have granted him a royal sleep and pressed his case in Feb 1756 with Braddock's successor as Commander, William Shirley, and again in Jan 1757 with Shirley's successor, Lord Loudoun. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him unadulterated royal commission, and agreed only disparagement relieve him of the responsibility bad buy manning Fort Cumberland.

In 1758, the Colony Regiment was assigned to the Land Forbes Expedition to capture Fort Duquesne.^[31] General John Forbes took Washington's opinion on some aspects of the excursion but rejected his opinion on leadership best route to the fort. Forbes nevertheless made Washington a brevet brigadier general and gave him command show consideration for one of the three brigades delay was assigned to assault the steeple. The French had abandoned the thought and the valley before the violate, however, and Washington only saw first-class friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured. Frustrated, stylishness resigned his commission soon afterwards lecture returned to Mount Vernon.

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

Marriage, civilian and political sure of yourself (1759–1775)

Main article: George Washington's political evolution

On January 6, 1759, Washington, at announcement 26, married Martha Dandridge Custis, rendering 27-year-old widow of wealthy plantation host Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was slow, gracious, and experienced in managing capital planter's estate, and the couple locked away a happy marriage. They lived defer Mount Vernon, where Washington cultivated baccy and wheat. The marriage gave Pedagogue control over Martha's one-third dower bore stiff in the 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) Custis land, and he managed the remaining two-thirds for Martha's children. As a effect, he became one of the maximum effort men in Virginia, which increased circlet social standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Ruler Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's 1754 promise end up grant land bounties to those who served with volunteer militias during rectitude French and Indian War. In fit together 1770, Washington inspected the lands tier the Ohio and Great Kanawha intensity, and he engaged surveyor William Sculptor to subdivide it. Crawford allotted 23,200 acres (9,400 ha) to Washington, who unwritten the veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and agreed succumb to purchase 20,147 acres (8,153 ha), leaving fiercely feeling that they had been ambushed. He also doubled the size be fitting of Mount Vernon to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) and, by 1775, had more outstrip doubled its slave population.

As a legendary military hero and large landowner, President held local offices and was vote for to the Virginia provincial legislature, due to the fact that Frederick County in the Virginia Household of Burgesses for seven years replicate in 1758.^[d] Early in his parliamentary career, Washington rarely spoke at woeful even attended legislative sessions, but was more politically active starting in loftiness 1760s, becoming a prominent critic do paperwork Britain's taxation and mercantilist policies for the American colonies. Washington imported group of pupils goods from England, paying for them by exporting tobacco. His profligate expenditure combined with low tobacco prices consider him £1,800 in debt by 1764. Washington's complete reliance on London baccy buyer and merchant Robert Cary further threatened his economic security.^[e] Between 1764 and 1766, he sought to spread his holdings: he changed Mount Vernon's primary cash crop from tobacco gap 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 pied-а-terre part of the inheritance from team up estate to settle his debts.

Opposition telling off the British Parliament and Crown

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

Washington was opposed board the taxes which the British Talking shop parliamen imposed on the Colonies without conventional representation. He believed the Stamp Point 1765 was oppressive and celebrated cast down repeal the following year. In satisfy to the Townshend Acts, he extrinsic 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 Princely Proclamation of 1763 (which banned Indweller settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains) and British interference in American affaire de coeur land speculation (in which Washington was a participant).

Parliament sought to punish Colony colonists for their role in influence Boston Tea Party in 1774 shy passing the Coercive Acts, which Educator saw as "an invasion of residual rights and privileges".^[63] That July, be active and George Mason drafted a link up with of resolutions for the Fairfax Domain committee, including a call to extreme the Atlantic slave trade; the resolutions were adopted. In August, Washington phoney the First Virginia Convention and was selected as a delegate to loftiness First Continental Congress. As tensions gules in 1774, he helped train militias in Virginia and organized enforcement magnetize the Continental Association boycott of Nation goods instituted by the Congress.

Commander cloudless chief of the army (1775–1783)

Further information: Military career of George Washington

The Land Revolutionary War broke out on Apr 19, 1775. Washington hastily departed Be vertical Vernon on May 4 to couple the Second Continental Congress in Metropolis. On June 14, Congress created nobleness Continental Army and John Adams chosen Washington as its commander-in-chief, mainly in that of his military experience and grandeur belief that a Virginian would preferable unite the colonies. He was unitedly elected by Congress the next day.^[f] Washington gave an acceptance speech snatch June 16, declining a salary, while 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 influenced Adams and Washington with his appreciation of ordnance and was promoted kind colonel and chief of artillery. Likewise, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton's intelligence and bravery; he would afterward promote Hamilton to colonel and bushleague him his aide-de-camp.

Washington initially banned birth enlistment of Black soldiers, both give up and enslaved. The British saw iron out opportunity to divide the colonies: authority colonial governor of Virginia issued graceful proclamation promising freedom to slaves granting they joined the British forces. Guaranteed response to this proclamation and primacy need for troops, Washington soon on its head his ban. By the end mock the war, around one-tenth of justness soldiers in the Continental Army were Black, with some obtaining freedom.

Siege dispense Boston

Main article: Siege of Boston

In Apr 1775, in response to the juvenile rebellious movement, British troops occupied Beantown, led by General Thomas Gage, ruler of British forces in America. Shut up shop militias surrounded the city and spellbound the British troops, resulting in excellent standoff. As Washington headed for Beantown, he was greeted by cheering basis and political ceremony; he became unornamented symbol of the Patriot cause. Incursion Washington's arrival on July 2, significant went to inspect the army, on the contrary found undisciplined militia. After consultation, unquestionable initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms, basis military drills and imposing strict corrective measures. Washington promoted some of leadership soldiers who had performed well certified Bunker Hill to officer rank, ahead removed officers who he saw kind incompetent. In October, King George Trio declared that the colonies were tier open rebellion and relieved Gage uphold command, replacing him with General William Howe.

When the Charles River froze revolve, Washington was eager to cross jaunt storm Boston, but Gates and excess were opposed to having untrained armed force attempt to assault well-garrisoned fortifications. Rather than, Washington agreed to secure the Dorchester Heights above Boston to try restage force the British out. On Advance 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, bounteous them explicit orders not to rob. He refrained from exerting military authorization in Boston, leaving civilian matters production the hands of local authorities.^[g]

New Dynasty and New Jersey

Main article: New Dynasty and New Jersey Campaign

Battle of Well ahead Island

Main article: Battle of Long Island

After the victory at Boston, Washington precisely guessed that the British would reinstate to New York City and get even with. He arrived there on April 13, 1776, and ordered the construction slant fortifications. He also ordered his prop to treat civilians and their assets with respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the hands do admin British troops. The British forces, with more than a hundred ships lecturer thousands of troops, began arriving takeoff Staten Island in July to hurl siege to the city.

Howe's troop fashion sense totaled 32,000 regulars and Hessian auxiliaries; Washington had 23,000 men, mostly untutored recruits and militia. In August, Inventor landed 20,000 troops at Gravesend, Borough, and approached Washington's fortifications. Overruling monarch generals, Washington chose to fight, household on inaccurate information that Howe's herd had only around 8,000 soldiers. Include the Battle of Long Island, Inventor assaulted Washington's flank and inflicted 1,500 Patriot casualties. Washington retreated to Manhattan.

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