George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the commander-in-chief of the colonial army during the American Revolutionary War. He led the Continental Army to victory, securing American independence. He refused colleagues’ proposals for him to lead a military government and resigned as commander-in-chief in 1783 after the war ended, returning to his Mount Vernon estate to live a civilian life.

In 1787, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention, helping to draft the U.S. Constitution. In 1789, he was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the Electoral College. During his two terms, he established many policies and traditions that continue today. After his terms, he voluntarily relinquished power and did not seek reelection. Washington is revered as the “Father of the Country.”

Early Life

Washington was born in Britain in 1732; his family had settled in Virginia in 1657. His father was a large slave-owning plantation owner. After his father’s death, the family faced financial difficulties, preventing Washington from going to Britain for schooling. He never traveled to Europe in his lifetime.

Self-educated, Washington became a land surveyor at the age of 16. Three years of surveying work familiarized him with the local territory and taught him how to interact with Native Americans. By age 18, he owned 1,450 acres of land, connected with prominent families, and developed good habits and the ethical ideals of upper-class society. Later, Washington also served as a firefighter.

Militia Colonel

At 22, Washington became a militia major, later promoted to colonel. The Governor of Virginia sent him to the Ohio Valley to attack the French. He killed a French commander but was forced to surrender when counterattacked. He was later released. In the following years, Washington continued to fight the French with militia troops until resigning from military service at 27. At 28, he married Martha Dandridge Custis, a wealthy widow with two children, whom he helped raise. The couple moved to Mount Vernon and ran the plantation. Washington was also elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Revolutionary War (1774–1783)

In 1774, Washington was elected as a Virginia delegate to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In April 1775, when the colonies clashed with British forces, he attended the Second Continental Congress in uniform, volunteering to lead the Virginia militia. John Adams recommended him as commander-in-chief, and the Congress elected him unanimously. Washington said he would receive no compensation beyond necessary expenses.

Facing the powerful British army, Washington’s troops suffered setbacks, including the harsh winter of 1777 at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where they regrouped and trained. Subsequent battles with the British were mixed in outcome. After France allied with the Continental Army and declared war on Britain, the war’s tide turned. In 1781, American and French forces besieged the British at Yorktown until the British surrendered on October 17, a decisive battle that secured American independence.

After the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, recognizing U.S. independence, Washington disbanded the army and delivered his farewell address.

Return to Mount Vernon (1783–1789)

Washington said: “In our superior country, whether in business or farming, diligence will secure a prosperous livelihood.” He returned to Mount Vernon, declining interviews and immersing himself in plantation life. The estate covered 4,000 acres, but Washington had little cash and often borrowed money. When he moved to New York as President, he had to borrow $600 for moving expenses.

After the war, the United States lacked a national government. Washington understood the necessity of a strong central government. During the war, he had faced shortages and frustration with the Continental Congress. Unlike in China, he could not “tax the rich and distribute to the poor.” Establishing government required a legal framework.

Presiding Over the Constitutional Convention

In 1787, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Delegates unanimously chose him as chair, with Benjamin Franklin as vice-chair. The convention lasted four months, featuring intense debates and negotiations. Washington did not participate actively in discussions but his prestige maintained order, enabling delegates to focus on drafting compromises that resulted in the Constitution.

Presidency

In 1789, Washington was unanimously elected President by the Electoral College. He arranged his household, visiting his elderly mother before assuming office. On April 16, he left his civilian life of five years and went to New York to serve. The Congress had authorized a $25,000 annual salary, a large sum at the time, but Washington declined it, viewing the role as civic duty.

His wife, Martha (1731–1802), preferred a quiet life at Mount Vernon but fulfilled her duties as First Lady, hosting weekly dinners for dignitaries.

Washington’s government started from scratch, with only a few clerks, an empty treasury, and heavy debt. He opposed partisan politics and never publicly supported any party. Washington was the only U.S. president without a political party affiliation.

First Lady Martha Washington

Washington was serious, sometimes stern and intimidating. Martha’s diplomacy brought warmth and humor to official functions, making the president more approachable. She had previously supported Washington during winter campaigns, organizing sewing teams for soldiers. Martha disliked public display and longed for the quiet life of Mount Vernon, describing life in New York as restrictive and monotonous.

Refusal of a Third Term

Though Washington reluctantly accepted a second term, he refused a third, setting a precedent for the two-term limit later codified in the 22nd Amendment. His farewell address remains one of the most influential political speeches in U.S. history, warning against excessive party division and urging national unity. He advocated maintaining friendly trade relations abroad while avoiding entanglement in European wars or permanent alliances.

Retirement and Death

After retiring in March 1797, Washington returned to Mount Vernon with Martha, surrounded by family and friends. At the estate, he built a distillery, producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey the next year for a $7,500 profit.

In 1799, Federalists, amid party divisions, urged Washington to run for president again, but he firmly declined, calling himself “an old fool, lost in senility” if he ran.

Washington caught a cold, which progressed to laryngitis and pneumonia. He died on December 14, 1799, at age 67, and was buried at Mount Vernon, in a modest grave he had planned. Martha passed away on May 22, 1802, at age 70. The couple rests together at Mount Vernon.