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George Washington

Victorious general of the American Revolution, the first President of the United States, successful planter and entrepreneur. Explore the life and legacies of George Washington.

Biography of George Washington
Biography

Biography of George Washington

First American president, Continental Army commander, president of the Constitutional Convention, and more.

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Youth

Little is known of George Washington's childhood, and it remains the most poorly understood part of his life. His early experiences working as a surveyor and in the Virginia company helped shape the man who would become the first President of the United States.

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Slavery

As a young Virginia planter, Washington accepted slavery without apparent concern. But after the Revolutionary War, he began to feel burdened by his personal entanglement with slavery and uneasy about slavery’s effect on the nation.

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French & Indian War

George Washington's forays into the Ohio country shaped his career and sparked a global war. Learn more about Washington and the French & Indian War.

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Martha Washington

Martha Washington was the first first lady of the United States and spent about half of the Revolutionary War at the front with General Washington. She helped manage and run her husbands' estates and raised her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

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Revolutionary War

Despite having little practical experience in managing large, conventional armies, George Washington proved to be a capable and resilient leader of the American military forces during the Revolutionary War.

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First President

Unanimously elected twice, President Washington established many crucial precedents and confronted many domestic and foreign policy challenges.

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Death

On the evening of December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon, George Washington passed away of a throat infection after riding through a wet and snowy wintry mix two days earlier.

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George Washington's Resume

What would Washington's resume have looked like if he had applied for a job after the presidency? 

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Religion

While a private man when it came to his personal religious beliefs, George Washington worked tirelessly to ensure people of all religions had the right to practice within the United States.

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Native Americans

Washington had a complicated relationship with Native Americans. Throughout his life, Washington negotiated with and served alongside native peoples, fought against others, and sought their land for his own prosperity.

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Washington the Farmer

Washington studied and implemented improved farming methods throughout his life. In fact, he thought of himself first as a farmer.

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Education

Born in the Age of Reason, Washington was a part of a new generation of readers who had access to more information. He built a library that would ultimately consist of more than 1,200 titles. 

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House of Burgesses

The first time George Washington ran for public office, he lost. Washington is often remembered as an established statesman, leading a new nation. However, his political career began decades early in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

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Freemasonry

Freemasonry played a role throughout George Washington's life, joining the Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1752, through his death, where brothers of Alexandria Lodge performed Masonic rites at his funeral.

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Health

Throughout his life, Washington was concerned he would die young like his father. To prevent this, he tried to live a healthy life but still encountered many illnesses. 

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Humor

Although Washington isn't particularly known for his sense of humor, the General's correspondence and the stories of those who knew him prove that our Founding Father surely "relished wit and humour."

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Food at Mount Vernon

Learn about the food traditions of the Washingtons and the enslaved at Mount Vernon.

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Washington Facts

What did his voice sound like? Was he really a good dancer? Separate fact from fiction and learn more about the real George Washington.

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Washington as Bookkeeper

George Washington personally kept fastidious financial records throughout his life, an impressive feat considering the size of his business enterprise.

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Washington in Art

Explore the many artistic depictions of Washington and the artists who sought to capture his likeness for posterity.

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The Washington Family

Although George Washington never had any children of his own, he did have a rather large family, comprised of his many siblings, step-children, and step-grandchildren.

George Washington's Immediate Family

Father
Augustine Washington (1694-1743)
Mother
Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789)
Brothers
Samuel Washington (1734-1781)
John Augustine Washington (1736-1787)
Charles Washington (1738-1799)
Sisters
Betty Washington Lewis (1733 - 1797)
Mildred Washington (1737-1740)
Half-Brothers
Butler Washington (1716-1716)
Lawrence Washington (1718-1752)
Augustine Washington Jr. (1720-1762)
Half-Sister
Jane Washington (1722-1734)
Wife
Martha Washington (1731-1802)
Biological Children
None
Step Children
Daniel Custis (1751–1754)
Frances Custis (1753–1757)
John "Jacky" Parke Custis (1754–1781)
Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis (1756–1773)
Step Grandchildren
Elizabeth "Eliza" Parke Custis Law (1776–1831)
Martha Parke Custis Peter (1777–1854)
Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis Lewis (1779–1852)
George Washington "Washy" Parke Custis (1781–1857)
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George Washington Quotes

Did George Washington really say that? Find out in our quotable database.

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