11 Facts About George Washington

Introduction

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at his family’s farm in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He lived his entire life on that farm until his death in 1799. Washington was one of the Founding Fathers of America and he served as America’s first President from 1789 to 1797, being elected unanimously by the Electoral College in both elections. He was a successful military leader during the American Revolution against Britain, and a brief war in 1790 and 1792 with Britain’s ally France.

Early Life

Washington grew up in the Virginia Tidewater region along the Potomac River, which was very rural. His father died when he was 11, after which he inherited his family’s large farm at Mount Vernon, where they lived. He had seven children with his first wife, who died in 1761; their son now lives at Mount Vernon.

Military Career

Washington was one of the best generals of the American Revolution. He led American forces to victory in many battles, including Brandywine, Trenton, Germantown, Princeton, Monmouth, and Yorktown. In doing so he became the iconic leader of the new United States.

After the Revolution

After the war ended in 1781 Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief and returned home to Mount Vernon. He sat on the committee to design the Great Seal of the United States and oversaw construction of his home, Mount Vernon. In 1787 Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then campaigned for president in 1789 and won unanimously.

Presidency

As President, Washington preserved the young nation’s neutrality in foreign affairs, kept open trade with all countries despite a fierce economic war with Britain, and suppressed an anti-Federalist uprising in western Pennsylvania.

Death & Legacy

Washington died on December 14, 1799 at his home, Mount Vernon. Washington was the dominant military and political leader of his age. He has consistently been ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. presidents.

Washington was a successful military leader during the American Revolution against Britain, and a brief war in 1790 and 1792 with Britain’s ally France. He is often referred to as “the father of his country” for his role in leading America to independence from Great Britain, and then playing an instrumental role in the formation of the United States Constitution.

Facts about George Washington

Washington went to elementary school but never got a high school education

Washington’s formal schooling ended when he was 11 years old. After a few years of informal instruction by his neighbours, Washington himself was able to use the little that he had learned to start his own business as a surveyor at age 17. In 1748, Washington made a very important decision that would affect his entire life: he chose to leave work as a surveyor and go into the military.

George Washington’s first job was as a surveyor

When Washington began his career in 1748 as a surveyor’s apprentice, he was following in his father’s footsteps. Lawrence Washington had been a prosperous planter and devoted land speculator who had greatly expanded the family holdings. His interests required that he establish accurate boundaries for land claims, and he recognized that surveys were often plagued by inaccuracies. He began seeking out surveyors who could produce more dependable maps. Washington learned to survey from his friend George William Fairfax, whose father owned land adjoining that of Washington’s family. In 1748, he became his assistant on surveys. Washington also served as a militia officer in the French and Indian War between 1755 and 1758.

Washington inherited Mount Vernon upon his father’s death in 1743 and began to manage its operations, although he spent most of the next two decades at war or serving in public office in Williamsburg. In early 1754, he surveyed land bordering the Ohio River for fellow officers of the Virginia regiment before setting off for Fort Le Boeuf and then Niagara. Upon returning, he learned from surveyor Andrew Burnaby that the boundary separating Virginia and Maryland was incorrectly delineated. In September 1775, during the early days of the American Revolution, Washington wrote to his Continental Army colleague Major General Philip Schuyler about participation in a survey of New York lands:

George Washington was born into a wealthy family that had enslaved people. He inherited his father’s slaves when he was 11 years old

“George Washington’s earliest documented slaveholding was five enslaved black people given to him by his father,” said Robin Kolodny, associate professor of history at the University of Vermont. “This was not an uncommon practice—in fact, it was a common practice among gentry families in Virginia.”

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association estimates that Washington was the owner of 317 enslaved people when he died in 1799. The figure is based on historical records and records of slave sales during his lifetime. But some historians say that number is too low, and others have shown he could have owned as many as 600 enslaved people.

Washington was a commander-in-chief

Washington was named commander-in-chief of the U.S. military forces on June 15, 1775, during the War of Independence from Great Britain. He led the Continental Army to victory in many battles and was a key player in forcing the British to sign a peace treaty at Paris in 1783.

George Washington was posthumously awarded the highest rank in the U.S. military. No one will ever rank higher than Washington in the U.S. military.

How high is that rank?

It’s three ranks above the highest rank anyone in any branch of service has ever achieved since 1976 when Washington was posthumously awarded that rank. That’s right, three ranks above any rank displayed by a person who is currently serving, has served or ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including those who’ve achieved four-star general or admiral status.

George Washington was not a healthy president

He had an overactive thyroid. He was diagnosed with a slew of other diseases, including malaria, dysentery, typhoid and pneumonia. He also had chronic tooth and jaw problems, migraines, chicken pox and shingles.
George Washington is one of the few presidents who is known to have suffered from Ménière’s disease. It’s a disorder of the inner ear that can lead to vertigo, ringing in the ears, hearing loss and tinnitus.
Washington (1789-97) suffered a severe attack in 1798 and while he eventually recovered his hearing fully; it left him completely deaf in his right ear.
Yet despite all of his health problems, Washington lived to the grand old age of 67.

George Washington was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States.

George Washington became the first and only founding father to be unanimously elected president.
Washington had already been acclaimed commander in chief of the Continental Army and was widely respected for his military achievements, and many Americans considered him the logical choice for President of the United States.
Washington’s unanimous selection as president by the electoral college established a precedent that continues into modern times. In recent years, there has been no serious effort to elect a candidate other than the two major party nominees, and Washington’s achievement is therefore unique. As early as 1776 it was being suggested that he should be anointed in some formal way, but Washington did not want to be treated any differently from anyone else, so his election went off without incident.

George Washington was actually a very skilled general, he was a great leader. He was not only known for his abilities in battle but also his superior leadership skills. His leadership abilities were the primary reason for many of the victories he had over the British in revolutionary war.

Washington also had great qualities as president. He established many precedents that have been carried on by every president since then such as holding regular meetings with his cabinet and being the first to set up an orderly transition from one administration to another when he passed on power to John Adams who became our second president. He is said to have been so successful because he understood human nature which is something many politicians today lack.

George Washington never served as president in Washington D.C

Washington D.C., was named in 1791, for the 1st President George Washington, by the US Congress. It did not become the permanent capital of the United States until 1800. George Washington, never served as president in Washington D.C., which was named for him

George Washington’s teeth made of ivory, metal alloys and teeth of other humans

For years, there have been historical rumors and controversies about George Washington’s false teeth. It was said that they were made from the teeth of his slaves and that one of them was even made from the teeth taken out of his dead mother’s mouth.

Recent research suggests that this is not true at all. According to research, Many people in 18th century used tooth-replacement. People used different materials as human teeth, such as animal teeth, ivory and even lead alloy.

George Washington fell in love with Martha Custis, the wife of his best friend and college roommate

George Washington was a ladies’ man. He was talented, charismatic and extremely good-looking. Women flocked to him like bees to honey. In fact, when he was a young man, he had more than 100 love letters from women in his possession, including one from Martha Custis (wife of his best friend), which she signed “your inseparable companion and devoted wife.”

Of course, Washington “did the right thing” by courting Martha and marrying her instead of carrying on with her (or any other woman). But his first “true love” wasn’t so lucky.

George Washington had no biological children

George Washington had no biological children. This means that he did not have offspring in his lifetime. He did have stepchildren, however his wife Martha Custis had four children while married to Daniel Parke Custis who died in 1757. Martha Custis and George Washington were married in 1759 and the couple had no children of their own while together.