A Colonial Boyhood

1732- George Washington was born on February 22nd, in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. He grew up near Fredericksburg, Virginia with his younger sister and three younger brothers. He also had two older half-brothers who were sent to school in England. Washington studied subjects such as geography, astronomy, arithmetic and surveying at home. Spelling and handwriting were practiced by writing in a copybook. Children copied the Rules of Civility, which taught them how to behave properly. Washington carefully wrote all 110 rules in his copybook, which also helped him develop good handwriting.

1743- George Washington's father, Augustine, died when he was eleven years old. Young Washington became very close to his older half-brother, Lawrence, who was living in a small house their father built on the Potomac River. Lawrence named the house and its farm, Mount Vernon, after his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Navy. Washington enjoyed listening to Lawrence talk about the time he served in the military and the largely unexplored Virginia frontier. One day, Washington learned that Lawrence's friend, George William Fairfax, was going to the frontier to survey land. Washington immediately wanted to go. He had learned a little about surveying and had practiced by measuring Lawrence's turnip field. Although he was only 16 years old, Mr. Fairfax allowed him to join the group.

Starting a Career & Family

1748- George Washington accompanied George William Fairfax on a trip to the Virginia frontier to survey land.  He learned more than surveying on the trip. The men rode on horseback for days exploring the wilderness. They slept in the open, still wearing their clothes and rolled up in blankets. They talked with Indians, ate some of their food, and watched them dance in the bright firelight. George wrote about these experiences in his journal.

1752- George Washington's beloved older half-brother, Lawrence, died. In 1754, George Washington leased Mount Vernon from his brother's widow. In 1761, he inherited Mount Vernon at the death of Lawrence's widow.

1753- The British governor of Virginia sent George Washington on a diplomatic mission to the Ohio River Valley to expel the French from the region.  Soon Major Washington was fighting in the first battles of the French and Indian War. The next year, he served as an aide to the British General Edward Braddock. In a fearful battle, George Washington escaped injury many times. Four bullets ripped through his coat. Two horses were shot from under him.  Later, he was made a colonel and led soldiers who defended Virginia's frontier in the Shenandoah Valley. Finally, after years of battles and a British victory, the war was over.

1759- George Washington married a young widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, and settled at Mount Vernon with her and her two young children, John Parke and Martha Parke Custis.  The Washingtons led a happy life at Mount Vernon, often visited by friends and relatives for parties and fox hunts. Colonel Washington more than doubled the size of Mount Vernon and bought land to increase his plantation to five farms. In a step away from Virginia tradition, he stopped growing labor-intensive tobacco, making wheat and corn his main cash crops.

Founding a Nation

1775- George Washington was named the Commander in Chief of the Continental forces. By the early 1770's, George Washington and other colonists were becoming angry with England. Goods from England were expensive and poorly made, colonists were forced to sell their crops to England for very low prices, and taxes were growing higher and higher.  Colonel Washington went to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress to discuss these problems. The British were told of the colonists' concerns, but did nothing. In 1775, Colonel Washington was elected to the Second Continental Congress. By the time it met, battles had been fought at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The American Revolution had started, and Congress named George Washington Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

1781- The British general, Cornwallis, surrendered to Washington at Yorktown after a long and difficult war. General Washington did not have enough soldiers, guns, food or equipment. He had learned from the French and Indian War to make the most of his supplies and to keep his men healthy. His men became good soldiers because Washington demanded hard work and discipline. General Washington decided not to attack the British directly, but instead moved his troops quickly into surprise attacks.  Although the war was won, it was also a sad time for the Washington family. Martha's son, Jacky, died of camp fever at Yorktown. Her daughter, Patsy, had died a few years earlier.

1783- A peace treaty with England was signed. Some of General Washington's officers wanted him to seize power and run the new nation, but he refused. Instead he resigned as Commander in Chief, disbanded the Army, and went home to Mount Vernon to live the rest of his life as a private citizen.

1787- The thirteen new states did not work well together. Soon each state sent delegates to a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to solve the problem. General Washington went and was asked to preside over the Convention. After weeks of long debates and many votes, the delegates worked out their differences. They wrote a new constitution for the nation with a democratic government. When the time came to elect a leader for the new government, George Washington was the unanimous choice.

 
The First President

1789- On April 30th, George Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City. The early years of Washington's presidency were very important to our new country. President Washington created departments within the government, ensured that federal laws were obeyed, and adopted a unified currency that would be good in all states.  President Washington also helped plan a new capital for the nation that was named Washington in his honor. Many of his decisions became precedents that later presidents would follow, such as his decision to serve only two terms.

1797- After eight years as president, Washington refused to be considered for a third term and returned home, leaving the office of president to the newly elected John Adams. After 45 years of carefully planning the buildings and landscape, he was at last able to enjoy his beloved Mount Vernon.  Though thousands of visitors were warmly welcomed to visit the estate each year, Washington still enjoyed quiet evenings on the piazza overlooking the Potomac River. One of Martha's grandchildren, Nelly, often played music for him and his guests. This peaceful life lasted less than three years though.

1799-  After riding through a bad winter storm, General Washington caught a cold. His throat became infected making it difficult to breathe. On December 14th, at the age of 67, George Washington died from this infection called quinsy. As he wished, he was buried at Mount Vernon.  People everywhere mourned. General Henry "Lighthorse" Lee, who had been with Washington in the Revolutionary War, wrote in Washington's eulogy to Congress, that Washington was, "...first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."