G. Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War against the British Empire. He has become commonly known as the Father of His Country for his role in American independence.
Born in the Colony of Virginia, Washington joined the Virginia Regiment in 1752 and became its commander during the French and Indian War (1754–1763). He was later elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he opposed the perceived oppression of the American colonists by the British Crown. He was named a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, which appointed him commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775. He directed a poorly organized and equipped force against disciplined British troops, but achieved an alliance with the French in 1778 and a decisive victory over the British at Yorktown in 1781. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 acknowledged the independence of the United States. Washington then served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the current Constitution of the United States.
Washington was twice elected president unanimously by the Electoral College in 1788 and 1792. As the first U.S. president, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining impartial in a fierce rivalry that emerged between cabinet members Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During the French Revolution, he proclaimed a policy of neutrality while supporting the Jay Treaty with Great Britain. He set enduring precedents for the office of president, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer of power, the use of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. His 1796 farewell address became a preeminent statement on republicanism: he wrote about the importance of national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and foreign influence pose to it. As a planter of tobacco and wheat at Mount Vernon, Washington owned many slaves. He grew to oppose slavery near the end of his lifetime, and provided in his will for the manumission of his slaves.
Washington's image is an icon of American culture. He has been memorialized by monuments, a federal holiday, various media depictions, geographical locations including the national capital, the State of Washington, stamps, and currency. In 1976, Washington was posthumously appointed to the rank of General of the Armies, the highest rank in the U.S. Army. In both popular and scholarly polls, Washington is consistently considered one of the greatest presidents in American history.
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