George Washington

The White House Historical Association provides biographies for President Washington and previous presidents.

At the young age of 16, Washington helped survey lands in Shenandoah for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. He later received a commission as a lieutenant colonel in 1754 and fought in the French and Indian War. In 1755, he served as an aide to General Edward Braddock and narrowly escaped injury despite bullets tearing through his coat and two horses being shot from under him.

Between 1759 and the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, and together they led a happy and fulfilled life. However, like many of his fellow planters, Washington felt exploited by British merchants and hindered by British regulations. As tensions rose between the colonies and the mother country, he firmly but moderately voiced his resistance to these restrictions.

When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, who was one of the Virginia delegates, was elected as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of the ill-trained troops and embarked on a war that would last six grueling years.

Washington quickly realized that the best strategy was to harass the British and avoid a general action unless absolutely necessary. Throughout the war, he employed a strategy of falling back and striking unexpectedly. In 1781, with the aid of French allies, he was able to force the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Despite his desire to retire to his fields at Mount Vernon, Washington soon realized that the nation under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well. As a result, he became a key player in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington as President.

During his tenure as President, Washington did not infringe on the policy-making powers that he believed the Constitution gave to Congress. However, he did play a significant role in determining foreign policy. When the French Revolution led to a major war between France and England, Washington refused to take sides and instead insisted on a neutral course until the United States could become stronger.

To his disappointment, by the end of his first term, two political parties had developed. Tired of politics and feeling old, he retired at the end of his second term. In his Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to reject excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions. He also warned against forming long-term alliances in foreign affairs.

Sadly, Washington enjoyed less than three years of retirement at Mount Vernon before passing away from a throat infection on December 14, 1799. The nation mourned his loss for months. His legacy, however, lives on as a symbol of leadership, integrity, and devotion to the nation he helped to create.

George Washington, first in war,
First in peace, first in the hearts of all,
Father of our nation, strong and true,
Leading us through trials, his virtue shone through.
With wisdom and courage, he set us on our way,
And to this day, we honor and remember him always.
A symbol of freedom, a hero so bold,
His legacy lives on, in stories retold.
George Washington, a true American gem,
Eternal in our hearts, forever remembered.

George Washington, first in war,

First in peace, first in the hearts of all,

Father of our nation, strong and true,

Leading us through trials, his virtue shone through.

With wisdom and courage, he set us on our way,

And to this day, we honor and remember him always.

A symbol of freedom, a hero so bold,

His legacy lives on, in stories retold.

George Washington, a true American gem,

Eternal in our hearts, forever remembered.