This
is a list of basic George Washington Facts. George Washington is known
as the "Father of his Country." He was the Commander of Continental
Forces during the Revolutionary War and was elected the First President
of the United States of America. George Washington is often lauded for
retiring from public life twice and returning to his farm. When King
George III of England heard this after Washington retired as Commander
of the Continental Forces, he allegedly said, "If he does that, he will be the
greatest man in the world." This list of George
Washington Facts contains basic things such as birth and death dates,
marriage date, number of children and occupations as a young man. It
is also contains some interesting and less well known George Washington
Facts.
George
Washington Facts
When was
George Washington born?
February
22, 1732
George
Washington Birthplace
Father's "Pope Creek Estate" near
present day Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Parents'
names
Father - Augustine
Washington (1694 -
April 23, 1743)
Mother - Mary Ball (1708 - 1789).
They married in 1731. She was his second
wife.
Parents'
occupations
Father was a Planter and was part owner and
director of an iron mine
Number of
siblings
9
Birth
order
George was the fifth of Augustine
Washington's ten children, the
first four were mothered by Augustine's first wife, Jane Butler, two of
whom did not survive to adulthood, the next six children were mothered
by Mary Ball, including George, all of whom lived to adulthood, except
the last, Mildred, who died in infancy
Nicknames
Father of his Country
The American Cincinnatus - Cincinnatus
was a Roman political figure noted for retiring and going back to his
farm instead of trying to seize further political power
The Sage of Mount Vernon
The Old Fox - Lord Cornwallis used this
name for Washington in a remark in 1777
The American Fabius - from the writings
of Timothy Pickering, Fabius was a Roman general and politician noted
for his military tactics
Schools
attended
George Washington never attended any school
or college, he was educated as a child by his father and brother, and
also self-educated as he became an adult
Religious
Views
George Washington was a member of the
Anglican church, he makes frequent references to God and the Bible in
his public statements and private letters, personal friends and family
members gave accounts of his regular Bible reading, church attendance
and moral lifestyle, he personally promoted a project to evangelize
Indians that was organized by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon,
Washington even had a portrait of the Countess hanging in his house,
the Countess was one of the leading evangelical ministers of the day,
Washington was a "Low Church" Anglican, the branch of the Anglican
church that took the Bible literally and would be considered "true" to
the Bible by evangelical Christians today
First
Occupations
Surveyor, planter, soldier.
Trips
abroad
Washington
took only one trip outside of what is now the United States in his
life, he
went to Barbados with his older half-brother Lawrence in 1751, the
purpose of the trip was to find relief for Lawrence's tuberculosis with
the warmer weather
George
Washington Family
Date
of
marriage, wife's name
Married Martha Dandridge Custis on
January 6, 1759, she was a widow, they were both 27 years old
Children's
names
and birth order
George and Martha never had any children
together, George had bouts with both smallpox and tuberculosis earlier
in life and these may have left him unable to have children
In spite of their inability to have their
own children, George and Martha raised two children from her first
marriage:
John Parke Custis (November 27, 1754
– November 5, 1781), known as "Jackie"
Martha Parke Custis (1756 – June 19,
1773), known as "Patsy"
John Parke Custis served as an aide to
Washington at the Battle of Yorktown, he contracted camp fever and died
on November 5, 1781, after this, George and Martha Washington raised
John's
two children:
Eleanor Parke Custis (March 31, 1779 –
July 15, 1852), known as Nelly
George Washington Parke Custis - (April
30, 1781 – October 10, 1857)
Famous
relatives
John Parke Custis was raised by George
and Martha Washington, he was Martha's son from her previous marriage,
John married Eleanor Calvert, a granddaughter of Charles Calvert, 5th
Baron Baltimore, the Calvert family was the founding
family of the
colony of Maryland
George Washington Parke Custis was
Martha's biological grandson, he and his sister Eleanor were raised by
George and Martha after their father John died, George Washington Parke
Custis had one surviving daughter named Mary Anna Randolph Custis, she
married Robert E. Lee,
who became the Commander of the Confederate Army
during the Civil War
George Washington and Robert E. Lee,
Commander of the Confederate army during the civil war were third
cousins, twice removed!
Bushrod
Washington was George's nephew,
the son of George's younger
brother John Augustine Washington, Bushrod and George Washington were
very close, Bushrod was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United
States by President John Adams in 1799, the same year George Washington
died
George
Washington Facts -
The Revolutionary War
How
he got
involved in the independence effort?
Washington's first involvement in the
resistance against Great Britain was in 1769 when he introduced a bill
in
the House of Burgesses calling for a boycott of all British goods, the
bill was written by George Mason, the boycott was in response to the
Townsend Acts, a set of laws created by Parliament that taxed imports
to the American colonies, the colonists believed the acts were illegal
and violated their rights as British citizens
Did
he
see
military action during the war?
Yes,
yes and yes! George Washington was the Commander of the Continental
Forces, there were many battles of the Revolutionary War that were
fought by Washington's other generals, but Washington was actually
present at the following battles:
Siege of Boston
Battle of Long Island
Battle
of Kip's Bay
Battle of Harlem Heights
Battle of White Plains
Battle of Fort Washington
Battle of Trenton
Battle of the Assunpink Creek
Battle of Princeton
Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Germantown
Battle of White Marsh
Battle of Monmouth
Siege of Yorktown
George
Washington Facts -
Offices
Which
party was
he in?
Washington never formally joined a party,
he was against parties because he thought they created too much
division, he was considered to be the informal figurehead of the
Federalist party, though
Which
government
offices did he hold?
Elected Surveyor of Culpeper County -
1749-1751
Appointed Adjutant General of Virginia
militia - 1752, an adjutant general is the chief administrative officer
of the militia, this made him a Major at the age of 20
Appointed Lieutenant and Colonel of
Virginia Regiment - 1754
Commander of Virginia Military - 1755-1758
Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses -
1759-1774
Justice of the Peace - Fairfax County,
Virginia - 1760-1774
Delegate to Continental Congress -
1774-1775
Appointed Commander-in-Chief of
Continental Forces by Continental Congress - 1775-1783
Presiding officer over Constitutional
Convention - 1787
First President of the United States -
1789-1797 - elected twice
Did
he
hold any
office under the Royal government?
Yes.
Surveyor of Culpeper County - 1749-1751
Adjutant General of Virginia militia -
1752
Lieutenant and Colonel of Virginia
Regiment - 1754
Commander of Virginia Military - 1755-1758
Justice of the Peace - Fairfax County,
Virginia - 1760-1774
Accomplishments
of George Washington while in office?
Chaired Constitutional Convention in 1789
Averted war with France or Britain in
early part of his presidency, always promoting neutrality toward
conflicts between other nations
Stopped the first uprising against
Federal government, known as the Whiskey Rebellion, in 1794
By voluntarily retiring at the end of his
second term, Washington established the American precedent of a
non-violent transfer of power to new administrations
Oversaw creation of first National Bank
Oversaw creation of Jay Treaty which
ended many conflicts remaining with Britain at the end of the
Revolutionary War
George
Washington Facts -
Interesting Personal Information
Personal mottoes
Deeds, not words
For God and My Country
Character
and
disposition
Washington
is often revered for his
retiring from public service and going back to private life, rather
than seeking to extend his power as many monarchs did, thought to be
very shy and reserved, was believed to be very humble, not even wanting
positions of power, turned down a $25,000 salary (an enormous amount of
money at the time), known for his motto "Deeds, not words," not
concerned about leaving a "legacy"
George
Washington Quotes
"Nothing is a greater stranger to
my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and
detestable one, ingratitude."
- Letter to Governor Dinwiddie - May 29, 1754
"The fate of unborn millions will now
depend, under God, on the
courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy
leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject
submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die."
- Address to the Continental Army before the Battle of Long Island - August
27, 1776
“While
we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and
soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties
of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be
our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
- General Orders - May 2, 1778
Selected
works
of George Washington and their dates
Rules
of Civility - 1744 - This is a list
of proverbs and maxims written by George when he was about 16 years
old, the maxims originated in France and were used as a method of
instilling social virtues in young people, "Rules of Civility" is often
credited with being the source of George Washington's well spoken of
virtue
Proclamation
of Neutrality - April 22, 1793 - Britain and France were at
war at this
time and some Americans supported both sides, Washington was pressured
to
assist both sides but refused, he issued this proclamation and held to
this policy of neutrality toward other nations' conflicts throughout
his career
Due to impending war with France,
President John Adams asked Washington to take command of all United
States armies in 1798, Washington served in this position from July 13,
1798 until his death on December 14, 1799, he participated in the
planning for a possible war with France, but the war never occurred
Last Words
'Tis well. - spoken
just before he died
George
Washington's death
December 14, 1799 at age 67, Washington
became ill after spending all day December 12 on horseback in
snow and freezing rain, he awoke the next day with a cold, fever and
throat infection, these turned into pneumonia and possibly laryngitis,
Washington apparently died of asphyxiation as a result of all these
complications
Where
was George Washington buried?
At his
home, Mount Vernon, near Alexandria, Virginia
Epitaph
on
gravestone
George
Washington
February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799
"Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believeth in
Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John XI:XXV
Other
interesting
George Washington Facts
Quotes about George Washington by
others
After
the Revolutionary War, George Washington retired to Mt. Vernon in 1783.
King George III couldn't believe it. He reportedly said about
Washington - "If he does
that, he will be the greatest man in the world."
When Henry Lee delivered George
Washington's funeral oration, he said this of Washington - He
was "A citizen, first in
war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."
"Let
the deist reflect on this, and remember that Washington, the saviour of
his country, did not disdain to acknowledge and adore a great Saviour,
whom deists and infidels affect to slight and despise." -
Jonathan Mitchell Sewall, in an address to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on
December 31, 1799
"His
personal bravery, and the desire he has of animating his troops by
example, make him fearless of danger. This occasions us much
uneasiness. But Heaven, which has hitherto been his shield, I hope will
still continue to guard so valuable a life." - an
anonymous soldier, 1777
"Our
Washington is no more! The Hero, the Sage and Patriot of America - the
man on whom in times of danger, every eye was turned, and all hopes
were placed - lives now, only in his own great actions, and in the
hearts of an affectionate and afflicted people." -
Representative John Marshall, 1799, Marshall became Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court in 1801
Landmarks
for George Washington
Washington DC, the nation's capital is
named after George Washington
Washington Monument, Washington DC, the
familiar pointed obelisk across from the White House
Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, South
Dakota, features the heads of
Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln and Jefferson carved into the side of a
mountain
George Washington Masonic National
Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia
Mount Vernon - George Washington's famous
estate near Alexandria, Virginia - you can visit the Mount
Vernon website here
George Washington Birthplace National
Monument - Pope's Creek Estate, features the excavated original home
site, reconstructed period buildings with period furnishings and an
active farm, more info about George Washington's Birthplace monument here
Ferry Farm - George Washington's
childhood home near
Fredericksburg, Virginia, the original structures no longer exist, but
the site is an active farm and archaeological site - info and visiting
information about Ferry Farm can be found here
Christiana Campbell's Tavern -
Williamsburg, Virginia, this was George Washington's favorite place to
eat away from home, it is still open today! - you can find out how to visit Christiana Campbell's Tavern here
Natural Bridge - a natural Virginia
landmark, also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it was
first surveyed by George Washington as a young man and owned at one
time by Thomas Jefferson, find out more about how to visit the Natural Bridge here
Numerous, universities, streets and towns
throughout America are named after George Washington, as well as the
State of Washington
Other
interesting Random Facts about George Washington
In December 1753, Governor
Dinwiddie sent George Washington with a British ultimatum that
commanded the French to stop their developments in the Ohio country,
Washington assessed the French military strength and position and
delivered the ultimatum at the French Fort Le Beouf at present day
Waterford, Pennsylvania, this episode was one of the events that set in
motion the French and Indian war, Washington's report was examined on
both sides of the Atlantic, this was the first time he became known
internationally
After the disastrous Monongahela
expedition to take back Ohio from the French, in which General Edward
Braddock was killed, Washington wrote to his brother that God had
protected him, saying he had two horses shot out from under him and
multiple bullet holes through his clothes!
George Washington proposed to Martha
Dandridge Custis after knowing her for only three weeks and meeting her
only twice!
Washington was nominated for
Commander-in-Chief by future president John Adams on June 15, 1775
Martha Ball Washington owned an estate
called "The White House" on the Pamunkey River in New Kent, County,
Virginia when she married George
Martha Washington burned all of the
letters between
she and George his death to protect their privacy
Washington's likeness is featured on the
American $1 bill and the 25 cent quarter
George Washington and Robert E. Lee,
commander of Confederate forces during the Civil War, were third
cousins, twice removed!
George Washington never wore a wig as
some did in that day, he did powder his hair though and wore it in a
pony tail that was sometimes put in a silk bag!
