WASHINGTON, Gronnt; (173.2-99). Com mnande•-in-chief of the• Continental forces in the War of the American Ilevolution, and first Presi de•nt of the United States. Ile was horn in \Vest• inlireland County, Va., near the confluence of Bridges' creek and the Potomac Inver, February 22, 1732, and was the oldest son of Augustine Washington by his second wife, Mary Ball. His great-grandfather was John Washington, who emi grated from England about 1657 with his brother Lawrence. John became a landed proprietor and planter in Virginia, in the 'Northern Neck.' a district between the Potomac and the Rappahan nock rivers, and left two sons, Lawrence and John, the former being the father of Augustine. The little recorded concerning Augustine Wash ington represents him as a man of high character. By his first wife he had three sons and a daugh ter: by Mary Ball, who was endowed with great intelligence and beauty, four sons and two daughters. Soon after George's birth his father removed to a farm on the Rappahannock River, opposite Fredericksburg, where he died in 1743. This estate was bequeathed to George; the other children were handsomely provided for, Lawrence receiving the estate afterwards called Mount Vernon. But while the family bad a com petency and were large landed proprietors, the facilities for education in the colonies—particu larly in the South—were at this time so meagre that the younger children were forced to depend on the poor common schools of the neighborhood, where they acquired only the rudimentary branches. Yet, though naturally diffident, George saw something of planter society, and at the age of thirteen lie wrote out for his own use 110 max ims of civility and good behavior.
IIe was athletic in form, much given to exer cising, a graceful and expert rider, and fond of the wild life of the woods and encampments. Ile had the customary boyish proclivity toward imi tation of military service. possihly in a marked degree, and appears to have been generally chosen as a leader by the companions of his youth. and to have been deferred to by them in the settle ment of disputes which arose. As a growing lad, he was not remarkable as a scholar; was rather reserved and sedate in his demeanor; and was of a more serious turn of mind than is usual among boys. in 1740-42 his half-brother, Law rence Washington, served, as a captain of Vir ginia troops, under Admiral Vernon in the expe dition against Cartagena, and later named his residence on the l'otomac Mount Vernon, in honor of his commnande•. This connection led to the offer of a midshipman's commission to Geo•,ge, which, but for the opposition of his mother, he would have accepted. Such educa tion as the boy received was completed by the time he waN sixteen years of age, 'his last two years of schooling having been devoted mainly to the study of engineering, geometry, trigonom etry, and surveying, probably from his having a mathematical turn of mind, and also because the profession promised advantages. in view of the wild slate of the count ry and the increasing demand for acourate surveys.
In 1718 Washington received a commission as public surveyor, and the summer months of the next three years were acenpied by him in the duties of his profession, more partieularly in the region of tire Alleghanies, and especially on the 111111011Se tracts of land owned by Lo•d Fairfax, the first surveys of which be made in March and April, 1748. Surveyors were scarce, and the re
muneration was ample. and as the young Vir ginian was economical, he saved money, and ae qui red property by purchase long before he reached his majority. This fact and the quali ties of character whip,' he displayed gained him a solid reputation: and he was thus early re garded with esteem and confidence by the leading men in the colony.
'1'lle year 1751 found the frontiers threatened by the French and Indians, and frequent attacks and depredations occurred, necessitating roan: for the puhlie safety. The colony was accordingly divided into military districts, to each of which an adjutant-general was appointed, with the rank of major, and a salary of £150 per annum. George Washington received one of these appointments, and entered with zeal on the study of military tactics and strategy. chiefly under Adjutant Aluse, it Virginian. and Jacob Van Braem, a Dutch soldier of fortune. These studies were interrupted in 1751-52 by an ex cursion to Barbados with Lawrence, who wns sent thither by his physicians. During this visit George had all attack of smallpox. reeovering after a month's illness. On his death, in July. 1752, Lawrence bequeathed to George the estate of Mount Vernon, which had been left to him by his father. The eare of this property and his military duties occupied George until 1753, when he was sent as a commissioner by Governor Din widdie to gain information concerning the inten tions of the French, who had sent an expedition to the 'headwaters of the and to warn them against trespassing upon territory claimed by Virginia. Washington acquitted himself of this mission very creditably, displaying great judg ment, coolness, and address. He set out from Williamsburg in October, 1753, with no escort. and performed his journey through nearly 600 miles of wilderness in a most intrepid manner in spite of treachery and accidents, which are recorded in his modest account. In the spring of 1754 he was made second in command of the regiment which formed the military establish ment of the colony, and, with half the regiment, was sent forward to occupy the outposts on the Ohio. His superior officer, Col. Joshua Fry, sud denly died, and lie was soon left in sole com mand. This was his first campaign. and he at once distinguished himself by defeating a detach ment of the French under Jumonville. The skirmish of Great Meadows (July 3. 1754). which followed, resulted in the capitnlation of the provincial forces on terms honorable to Washington. On a reorganization of the Vir ginia troops, which meant an inferior military grade for him, he resigned his commission and retired to _Mount Vernon, refusing in a dignified way offers from Governor Sharpe of Maryland of a of his commission under conditions he deemed incompatible with self-respect.