George Washington

President of the United States

February 22, 1732 Popes Creek, Virginia, British America

December 14, 1799(1799-12-14) (67) Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.

April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797

1st president of the United States (1789–97) This article is about the first president of the United States. For other uses, see George Washington (disambiguation). George WashingtonPortrait based on the unfinished Athenaeum Portrait by Gilbert Stuart, 17961st President of the United StatesIn office April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797Vice President John AdamsPreceded by Office establishedSucceeded by John Adams7th Senior Officer of the United States ArmyIn office July 13, 1798 – December 14, 1799PresidentJohn AdamsPreceded by James WilkinsonSucceeded by Alexander HamiltonCommander in Chief of the Continental Army In office June 19, 1775 – December 23, 1783Appointed by Continental CongressPreceded by Office establishedSucceeded by Henry Knox (as Senior Officer)14th Chancellor of the College of William & MaryIn office April 30, 1788 – December 14, 1799PresidentJames MadisonPreceded by Richard Terrick (1776)Succeeded by John Tyler (1859)Delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress In office September 5, 1774 – June 16, 1775Preceded by Office establishedSucceeded by Thomas JeffersonMember of the Virginia House of Burgesses In office July 24, 1758 – June 24, 1775Preceded by Hugh WestSucceeded by Office abolishedConstituency Frederick County (1758–1765) Fairfax County (1765–1775) Personal detailsBorn(1732-02-22 ) February 22, 1732 Popes Creek, Virginia, British America DiedDecember 14, 1799(1799-12-14) (aged 67) Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.Cause of deathEpiglottitisResting placeMount Vernon, Virginia, U.S. 38°42′28.4″N 77°05′09.9″W  /  38.707889°N 77.086083°W  / 38.707889; -77.086083 Political partyIndependentSpouse(s)Martha Dandridge ​(m. 1759 )​ChildrenJohn Parke Custis (adopted)Parents Augustine Washington Mary Ball Washington RelativesWashington familyResidenceMount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.OccupationMilitary officerfarmerpoliticianAwards Congressional Gold Medal Thanks of Congress SignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance Great Britain   United StatesBranch/service Virginia Militia Continental Army United States Army Years of service 1752–1758 (Virginia Militia) 1775–1783 (Continental Army) 1798–1799 (U.S. Army) Rank Colonel (Virginia Militia) General and Commander in Chief (Continental Army) Lieutenant General (U.S. Army) General of the Armies (promoted posthumously in 1976 by Congress) Commands Virginia Regiment Continental Army United States Army Battles/wars French and Indian War Battle of Jumonville Glen Battle of Fort Necessity Braddock Expedition Battle of the Monongahela Forbes Expedition American Revolutionary War Boston campaign New York and New Jersey campaign Philadelphia campaign Yorktown campaign Northwest Indian War Whiskey Rebellion George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14 , 1799) was an American political leader, military general, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States, who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Washington led the Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War, and presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which established the Constitution of the United States and a federal government for the United States. Washington has been called the "Father of the Nation" for his manifold leadership in the formative days of the country. Washington's first public office was serving as official Surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia from 1749 to 1750. Subsequently, he received his initial military training (as well as a command with the Virginia Regiment) during the French and Indian War. He was later elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses and was named a delegate to the Continental Congress. Here he was appointed Commanding General of the Continental Army. With this title, he commanded American forces (allied with France) in the defeat and surrender of the British at the Siege of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War. He resigned his commission after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Washington played an indispensable role in adopting and ratifying the Constitution of the United States. He was then twice elected president by the Electoral College. He implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining impartial in a fierce rivalry between cabinet members Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During the French Revolution, he proclaimed a policy of neutrality while sanctioning the Jay Treaty. He set enduring precedents for the office of president, including the title "Mr. President", and his Farewell Address is widely regarded as a pre-eminent statement on republicanism. Washington owned several hundred slaves, and he supported measures passed by Congress to protect slavery. Starting in 1778, he became troubled with the institution of slavery and freed William Lee, one of his slaves, in his will. He freed the other 123 slaves that he owned upon the death of his wife, Martha Washington. She decided to respect her husband's wishes and freed these slaves on January 1, 1801, before her death. He endeavored to assimilate Native Americans into the Anglo-American culture but combated indigenous resistance during instances of violent conflict. He was a member of the Anglican Church and the Freemasons, and he urged broad religious freedom in his roles as general and president. Upon his death, he was eulogized as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen". He has been memorialized by monuments, a federal holiday, various media, geographical locations, including the national capital, the State of Washington, stamps, and currency, and many scholars and polls rank him among the greatest U.S. presidents. On March 13, 1978, Washington was militarily ranked General of the Armies, an honor that has only been awarded twice in the history of the United States.