| George Washington | |
|---|---|
| File:George Washington Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 1st President of the United States |
| In office | April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 |
| Vice President | John Adams |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | John Adams |
| Born | February 22, 1732 Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Political Party | Independent (no formal party) |
| Spouse | Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (m. 1759–1799) |
| Children | None (two stepchildren) |
| Profession | Planter, surveyor, soldier, statesman |
| Alma mater | No formal college (tutored) |
| Signature | 
|
George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the **1st president of the United States** (1789–1797), **commander in chief** of the Continental Army during the **American Revolutionary War**, and a principal **Founding Father**. Revered as the “Father of His Country,” Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention, set enduring presidential precedents, and guided the fragile new republic through its formative years.
Early Life and Military Beginnings
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington worked as a **surveyor** before gaining a militia commission. His frontier service in the **French and Indian War** (1754–1763) built his reputation for courage and leadership, despite early setbacks. After the war he married the widow **Martha Custis** and managed the Mount Vernon estate.
Revolution and Commander in Chief
In 1775, the Continental Congress unanimously chose Washington to command the Continental Army. He held the force together through hardship, striking key blows at **Trenton** and **Princeton** and enduring the winter at **Valley Forge**. With French alliance and support, he coordinated the decisive victory at **Yorktown** (1781). Washington’s resignation in 1783 affirmed civilian control over the military.
Framing the Nation
Concerned about the Articles of Confederation, Washington presided over the **Constitutional Convention of 1787**. Elected unanimously as the first president, he took office in New York City in 1789.
Presidency (1789–1797)
Washington established norms that shaped the office: forming a **cabinet** (including **Alexander Hamilton** and **Thomas Jefferson**), asserting neutrality in European wars, and serving **two terms** before retiring. Major actions included:
- **Judiciary Act of 1789** and creation of federal courts
- Support for Hamilton’s financial program (public credit, national bank, revenue measures)
- The **Bill of Rights** ratified (1791)
- Suppression of the **Whiskey Rebellion** (1794), confirming federal authority
- **Jay Treaty** with Britain (1795), easing tensions and stabilizing commerce
Farewell and Retirement
In his Farewell Address (1796), Washington warned against partisan entanglements and permanent foreign alliances. He retired to Mount Vernon, where he managed his estate and correspondence until his death in 1799.
Legacy
Washington’s integrity, restraint, and civic virtue anchored the new nation. His voluntary relinquishing of power became a model for republican leadership. Memorialized in the Washington Monument, on currency, and in public memory, he remains a global symbol of principled statecraft.