Biography of George Washington

For the first time in this blog I will be making a detailed study of the father of our country, George Washington. This recent fascination comes from my summer phase of playing Assassin's Creed III and reading books pertaining to the Colonial Age and the American Revolution. I have recently finished David McCullough's book 1776, which is a detailed account of the first year of the American Revolutionary War. This book focuses on three major campaigns during that year, including the Siege on Boston, the British invasion of New York, and the Continental victory at New Jersey. However for me the bigger take-away from this book was the in-depth insight into General George Washington's mind during the early stages of the war.

I think at this point I can comfortably say that the topic of the American Revolution is my favorite era pertaining to American history. Much more so than the Colonial Age, the Civil War, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Age, the Counterculture, and so forth. That is because this was an age of great thinkers and heroes alike, putting the philosophy of the Enlightenment into action. It was a very exciting and romantic period where a new mentality of patriotism was born, best emphasized by Patrick Henry's famous words, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death."

There are so many great stories and characters pertaining to this historical period, all of which proved vital to establishing America's independence and years later a new heritage. Consider the Continental leaders of the time such as Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, renowned public figures who were prepared to risk their lives to establish a new nation. Consider the patriots, the rebel rousers such as Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and Patrick Henry and the militia who began the uprising. Yet all of these revolutionary leaders and figures would have died in vain, had it not been for the military leadership of General George Washington.

As I often do with my historical studies, I first like to share what I have long known about the topic at hand. In regards to George Washington, as a lifelong American citizen, I cannot remember a time I did not know that name. His name is synonymous with the United States of America; the capital of the nation, the first president, his face on the dollar bill, streets and cities named after him, as well as the great state in the northwest. His character is celebrated as one of heroic righteousness, almost with god-like quality. There aren't many other figures throughout history as iconic as the story of George Washington. (Perhaps Julius Caesar comes to mind, a person who led both militarily and politically as Washington did). For the record I had both of these leaders as #1 and #2 on my list back in this 2011 post; Greatest Political Leaders.

So now in this post I'd like to give a full account of Washington's life. Just like I did with Ben Franklin I'll break it up into the defining phases of his life. He was born into wealth no doubt however demonstrated keen physical strength and a quality of humble leadership unlike most wealthy folk. Granted he was 6'2 and often commanded respect, yet he also carried himself always as a gentlemen with great honor. He established a public name for himself quite early at the age of 18 leading a regiment during the French and Indian War. After this he worked as a plantation farmer, married Martha, and served in public office until the onset of the American Revolution. The next two chapters of his life are very well known by which he led the Continental Army to victory and served as the first president of the United States.

Early Life in Virginia

It's going to be hard to summarize the life of Washington in just one post, and I will have to omit quite a bit of detail to complete this general study. I want to focus most my attention on his military leadership during the American Revolution War. Perhaps in the future I can make more detailed accounts pertaining to his early life in Virginia. In school I remember we were taught of Washington's early childhood righteousness as the boy who would never tell a lie. He was born in 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia to a very wealthy family who had prospered in land speculation and tobacco farming. His father Augustine was an important public figure in Virginia and George's elder brother Lawrence was his father's favorite heir apparent who inherited the Mount Vernon plantation in 1743.

George was not formally educated as a child, however he still displayed a keen interest in books and mathematics. He also displayed great physical demeanor in his teenage years and was an avid fox hunter and outdoorsman. Thru his passion for nature, he found work as a surveyor and helped explore the Shenandoah Valley in 1748. During this time Washington acquired most of his outdoor survival skills that would later become vital for his military career. Following the death of his elder brother Lawrence in 1752, George inherited Mount Vernon and turned his life towards one of public service. Thru his name and outdoor experience George was able to secure a commanding post of one of Virginia's militia regiments. 

Service in French and Indian War

When Washington assumed his first military post, the British and French were engaged in territorial hostilities. At the time the colonial militia still answered to the British crown and served as their necessary ground force. Washington's first significant assignment came in 1753 when he was appointed to warn the French and Iroquois tribes to vacate the Ohio Valley territory. He delivered the message at the French Fort Le Boeuf by which the French rejected his request and sent him home peacefully. The dangerous mission was one of Washington's first credits and later led to his promotion as second-in-command of the Virginia militia during the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1754.

The Battle of Jumonville Glen was an ambush of French soldier's by Washington's militia, that became his first military victory and the start of the French and Indian War. Thru this victory Washington was appointed as commander of the Virginia regiment and he quickly established base at Fort Necessity in Pennsylvania. However Fort Necessity lasted only a couple months and Washington was forced to surrender it to the French army on July 3rd. Washington later served under the British general Edward Braddock who was defeated yet again by the French in 1755 at the Battle of Monongahela. While Braddock was mortally wounded Washington protected the retreat of the army which regained his honor. He later resumed his role as commander of the Virginia Regiment and helped lead the final assault of the French stronghold of Fort Duquesne.

Plantation and Public office in Virginia

In 1759 George Washington married the wealthy widower and mother of two Martha Dandridge. Although they never had children together they both expanded their tobacco plantation on Mount Vernon and remained happily married for 40 years until death. During this time Washington moved way from his military service to one of plantation farmer yet also public office. In 1758 he assumed his first political office as a provincial representative of Frederick County, Virginia. Also during this time he got involved in the local branch of the Freemason society. Although he was often quite soft-spoken on political affairs he demonstrated opposition to British taxation in the 1760s as the fervor for patriotism began to arise.

Thru his military leadership and acquired wealth in tobacco, Washington quickly became a prominent figure in Virginia. He doubled the size of his Mount Vernon plantation and had nearly 100 slaves working for him. By the end of the French and Indian War he expressed his agitation with the British in regards to their taxation on the colonies yet also their proclamation line of 1763. This barrier established a reservation for Native Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains and prohibited colonialists from expanding further west. As an avid frontiersmen Washington surely saw this proclamation as a blockade to freedom. He further supported protests against British taxes and the eventual uprising that emerged in Boston in the early 1770s.

Revolutionary War Campaign

Now comes the bulk of this study and what I believe to be Washington's greatest claim to glory. It was in McCullough's book 1776 that I learned some very interesting truths pertaining to Washington's role in the American Revolutionary War. For starters he was very unqualified for the job, with only some prior experience in the French and Indian War. He did not have proper education and there were many other field generals much more suited for the post of leading the Continental Army. Yet Washington did possess key affluence over the most powerful of the colonial states, Virginia. Furthermore he demonstrated a natural character of leadership, which was why he was chosen as Commander-in-Chief by the Continental Congress in 1775. This was an honor that Washington himself confessed he was not deserving of, yet he promised to perform it diligently.

The American Revolutionary War began in the spring of 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. As this point the Massachusetts militia succeeded in driving the British army back to Boston however they were still not quite well organized. This lack of military discipline became apparent at the militia's defeat at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775. However despite this defeat the Patriotic morale was still high, and with Washington's arrival to Cambridge on July 2nd, the Siege of Boston was underway.

Washington began making his military plans on the outskirts of Boston establishing what was to no longer be a band of militia yet a proper continental army. He was aided by funding from Congress and a slew of accomplished staff officers such as General Charles Lee, Horatio Gates, Israel Putnam, Nathaniel Greene, Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, and Benedict Arnold. His campaign got off to a rocky start with the Continental defeat at Quebec under the leadership of Benedict Arnold. However that winter, Henry Knox was able to acquire the necessary artillery to begin their siege. On March 9th, Washington began his attack at night, and successfully drove out the British. By March 17th nearly 9000 British soldiers and Loyalists (known as Tories) evacuated the city, and thus Boston was won by the Continentals.

However this was just the beginning of the war and brought on the wrath of the British monarchy under King George III. As Washington partook in the historic Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia the British armies were landing in New York City. Eager to squash the rebellion King George III sent 400 ships to New York City, with 30,000 soldiers under the command of William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, and Henry Clinton. Washington planned to defend the city however the sight of this invasion must of struck horror on par to the Greek invasion of Troy. Washington's decision to defend the city is often considered one of his worst tactical choices. The Continental Army was not only greatly outnumbered but also they did not have any navy which was vital to control the city of New York along the Hudson River and the New York Harbor.

The Battle of Long Island on August 27th of 1776 brought a devastating loss for Washington's army and gave the British full control of New York City. Washington was forced to retreat and loss several more skirmishes at the White Plains and Fort Washington. The city of New York was set ablaze, most likely by patriots, however the British quickly assumed control of the destruction and established the city as their new stronghold. Meanwhile Washington was forced to retreat to New Jersey facing a harsh winter with very low morale. Furthermore General Charles Lee, often considered the tactical mastermind, and Washington's likely replacement was captured by the British that winter.

However on Christmas Night of 1776 Washington devised a surprise attack on the fortification of Trenton, New Jersey. This fort was controlled by the Hessian, who were German mercenaries working for the British army. Washington famously crossed the icy Delaware river and completely surprised the Hessian stronghold. Within an hour the city was secured by the Continental Army, however knowing the British would respond, Washington did not linger. Instead he out-maneuvered the British army and led another successful attack on the city of Princeton. This marked a major morale victory for the Continental Army who were able to establish a stronghold in New Jersey and drive the British back to New York City.

In the summer of 1777 British General John Burgoyne led a new campaign from Canada into New York known as the Saratoga Campaign while General Howe led a campaign into Philadelphia. By this point Benjamin Franklin had begun his diplomatic relations with France to acquire their much needed military and naval alliance. The French sent the Marquis de Lafayette to help command Washington's Continental Army where they met with Howe's army that fall. However Washington's army was defeated at the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown which allowed the British army to occupy the capital of Philadelphia. This was yet another tactical blunder on Washington's resume, however the Continental morale was restored with the victory at the Battle of Saratoga led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold.

That winter as the British occupied the city of Philadelphia, Washington moved his army to Valley Forge. Morale was once again low that winter due to harsh living conditions and many had once again called for the resignation of Gen Washington. However by March of 1778 supplies had begun to arrive from Congress and Washington had enlisted the help of the Prussian Baron von Steuban to further discipline the soldiers. By th
is point the French alliance with the Americans was official and the Continental Army came out of the winter fully prepared to engage the British once again. With the upcoming arrival of the French navy the British decided to evacuate Philadelphia and return to their stronghold in New York City. On their return route to New York they were attacked by Gen Washington at the Battle of Monmouth, yet still able to reach their destination.

With the arrival of the French navy, it appeared the momentum was in Washington's favor. He had even established a successful spy network known as Culper Ring in New York City. However in a unique twist of fortune, one of his most ranking officers Benedict Arnold turned on him and planned to deliver the base of West Point to the British. This plan was luckily intercepted by the Culper Ring and Benedict Arnold was forced to flee for his life. He served for the British army for the remainder of the war, and then lived the rest of his days in exile forever associated as the utmost of traitors.

By the winter of 1778-1779 the British began another campaign in the southern region of Georgia under the leadership of Henry Clinton. They eventually captured the city of Savannah, Charleston, and Camden by 1780. During this time Washington had stationed himself back in New Jersey and ordered a vicious campaign to eradicate the Iroquois in the north who were causing trouble. By June of 1780 despite new alliances with France and Spain the British had secured the southern theater of America as well as their stronghold of New York.

On March of 1781 the Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation which served as the first American constitution. Meanwhile Washington was reinforced by the French General Rochambeau and began a campaign in Virginia. Washington no doubt wanted to end the war in New York, where he had been humiliated in 1776, however he must have saw a greater advantage in Virginia under the command of British General Cornwallis. With the council of the French General Lafayette and Rochambeau Washington planned a coordinated attack on the Chesapeake Bay. They began their glorious march on Yorktown in mid-August and arrived on October 19th, 1781. By this point the French had already secured naval control of the Chesapeake Bay under the French leadership of  Admiral de Grasse. Washington thus led his ground force to a decisive victory at the Siege of Yorktown, which ultimately marked the end of the British occupancy.

Following the British defeat at Yorktown, the major battles had reached a standstill. Hostilities were still fierce among loyalists and patriots however by 1782-1783 British armies had begun to evacuate and return to their homeland. By Sept of 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed which ultimately brought an end to the American Revolutionary War. The British finally evacuated New York City on Nov 25th, and Gen Washington gladly took possession of the city he was unable to defend. This was no doubt Washington's proudest moment to return to New York City as the victorious leader of the American Revolution. He resigned shortly after as commander-in-chief and returned to his wife and home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

1st President of America

After nearly 10 years away at war, George Washington was very eager to return to his wife and home at Mount Vernon, Virginia. He intended to further his plantation business however he was never free from his obligations to the new nation. After the war the United States had established the Articles of Confederation as their government. However this was a government of elected representatives free of an executive leader. Also this government did not establish a federal union, yet was more so a link of states which Washington was opposed to. The outbreak of Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786 demonstrated the problems with the Articles of Confederation and called for a new federal Constitution.

In May of 1787 Washington was chosen once again as a delegate of Virginia to attend another major convention in Philadelphia. He presided over the assembly very adamant that the constitution establish a strong national government. The document was written mostly by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. It was signed in Independence Hall on September 17th, 1787. George Washington was chosen as the nation's first executive president, while John Adams was chosen as his vice president. The following year Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York City which had become the nation's capital overseeing the Articles of Confederation. The capital was later located to Philadelphia where he resided in the president's house. 

As great of a general as Washington was he was even a greater statesman. This was because he presided over ever political matter with a non-partisan agenda. Furthermore he was very invested in the establishment of the new nation having fought for it's independence for so long. He was humble in his authority and preferred to be called Mr. President with no royal ties. While Washington is usually identified as an independent on political matter's, it's probably fair to say he favored more government over less. Perhaps his greatest counselor was Alexander Hamilton, who fought in the war with Washington and was appointed as the Treasurer of State. Hamilton was perhaps the most influential figure in the early establishment of the government, favoring a strong federal system. 

Of Washington's cabinet were mostly figures who shared the Federalist viewpoint. This included John Adams, as his vice president, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox as the Secretary of War, and Edmund Randolph as the Attorney General. The only leading figure in opposition to the Federalist viewpoint was Thomas Jefferson who favored more state independence and feuded quite frequently with Alexander Hamilton. During Washington's 2 term presidency he oversaw the establishment of the First National Bank, a new coinage branch, as well as a new customs branch. He dealt with criticism early on due to the rise of taxes to pay for the war, yet also his neutrality in France's Revolutionary Wars. 

Washington squashed various rebellions pertaining to taxes such as the Whiskey Rebellion and he oversaw the Northwest Indian War. Also during Washington's presidency was the establishment of a new capital city in the District of Colombia to be named after the president himself. Under the Residence Act of 1790, the construction of the nation's capital including the White House began. It was not completed until 1800 by which John Adam's became the first president to reside in the new capital. Washington therefore spent most of his presidency in Philadelphia. After two terms in office Washington had grown weary of the politics and formally resigned in 1796 with his Farewell Address. In relinquishing his power, Washington established a mandate that the executive branch was not to be held more than two terms, and thus be transferred via elections. 

In 1797 Washington returned to his plantation in Mount Vernon yet even in retirement he stayed active in business and the nation's affairs. He was chosen by John Adams to once again command the American forces during the rising tensions with France, which later became referred to as the Quasi-War of 1798 (mostly an unofficial naval dispute). At this point Washington's physical health had begun to deteriorate however he was still very sharp. However in 1800 he suffered from a terrible attack of bloodletting which led to his rather instant death at the age of 67. His death was a devastating loss for the nation, however his work had been complete and his legacy became the mountaintop of America. Washington was no doubt a flawed and privileged character yet he was also a very natural and righteous leader. His role in the establishment of this nation that today has become the most powerful nation, is a further testament to his glorious life.