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Birth
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Ball. -
Family
Washington family moved to Ferry Farm (a plantation on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg); George Washington spent most of his youth here.Augustine Washington, George’s father, died. Although George Washington was the older child of the Ball-Washington household, Augustine left most of his property to his sons from his first marriage. George inherited 10 slaves from his father’s estate. Following the death of his father, George Washington’s formal education ended. -
Traveling
George Washington traveled to Barbados with his half-brother Lawrence in an attempt to cure the latter of a respiratory illness. George contracted smallpox while on the island. The trip was the only time George Washington traveled outside of the North American continent. -
Traveling with troops
Major Washington and 150 soldiers traveled to the Ohio Valley to fight for Virginia’s claim of the land. As part of the campaign, Washington’s men engaged in a combative confrontation with French soldiers. Following this skirmish, Washington and his men retreated to the makeshift Fort Necessity, where Washington was soon forced to surrender. This event deeply embarrassed Washington and he resigned his commission. This failed campaign sparked the French and Indian War. -
Marriage
On January 6, 1759, George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. A native of the Tidewater region of Virginia, Martha Custis was a young widow who recently had inherited an enormous amount of wealth after the passing of her husband, Daniel Parke Custis. She was also the mother of two young children, Jacky and Patsy. Following the marriage between George and Martha, the newlywed couple and Martha’s two children moved to Mount Vernon. -
Newly formed congress
: George Washington was a Gentleman Farmer at Mount Vernon in the years between his marriage to Martha and the onset of the American Revolution. Washington experimented with different farming techniques while also expanding his home at Mount Vernon.The newly formed Congress appointed George Washington to be the commander of the Continental Army. Washington held this position for the entirety of the American Revolution, totaling eight years. -
End of the war
Following the end of the American Revolution, Washington addressed Congress on December 23 in Annapolis and resigned his commission. Through this action, Washington gave the power back to the people and was declared a hero around the world. -
Retiring
Although determined to retire from public life after the Revolutionary War, Washington re-entered the public sphere and was unanimously elected president of what is now known as the Constitutional Convention. -
President
George Washington was unanimously elected as first President of the United States. -
Refusing his 3rd term
Refusing a third term, Washington retired from the presidency and all public life. By leaving office after two terms, Washington set a precedent that has been held to by most of the American presidents who followed him. He returned to Mount Vernon and enjoyed a peaceful retirement. -
Death
George Washington passed away on December 14 from a throat infection called epiglottitis in his bedroom at Mount Vernon. He was surrounded by close friends and his loving wife Martha.