George Washington

Born in Virginian gentry family, George Washington attended local schools and worked as land surveyor. In 1752 he inherited the Mount Vernon estate. Appointed adjutant general, Washington participated in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). In 1754 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Then he served as commander in chief of Virginia forces from 1755 to December 1758. Washington left the army in 1758 and entered politics, serving as a member (1758-1774) of House of Burgesses of Virginia. As a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, Washington did not participate actively in the deliberations, but on 15 Jun 1775 he was unanimously chosen as commander in chief of all the forces raised or to be raised by the colonies. Washington commanded the Continental armies throughout the war for independence until he finally resigned on 23 Dec 1783. After spending four years in his estate, Washington headed the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convension in Philadelphia (1787) and was unanimously elected its president (25 May 1787 - 17 Sep 1787). According to the new Constitution ratified by states by 1789, the electors unanimously elected Washington first President of the United States. He was inaugurated on 30 Apr 1789 in New York City. During the first term, Washington, his administration and Congress worked on creating new state institutions. In 1789 Congress created the Departments of State, Treasury, and War. The Judiciary Act (24 Sep 1789) established the Supreme Court. The next year the first national census was conducted to determine taxation and congressional representation of the states. A site along the Potomac River was approved by Congress as the permanent Capital, later named Washington, D.C. On 15 Dec 1791 Congress passed the Bill of Rights containing key amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Unanimously reelected in 1792, Washington served his second term amidst the struggle of factions headed by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. In April 1793 Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality in the Anglo-French war, which led to Jefferson's resignation. On 19 Nov 1794, the U.S. Minister to Great Britain John Jay signed a treaty with Great Britain, whcih provided for settling difficulties between the two nations. However, the treaty provoked bitter criticism of the Jeffersonians. In 1795, Pinckney's Treaty was signed, establishing commercial relations with Spain and fixing the southern boundary of the United States. The Whiskey Rebellion and wars with the Native Americans added up to the troubles of Washington's presidency. In 1796, he refused to run for a third term. Appointed as lieutenant general and commander of the U.S. Army on 3 Jul 1798 in view of possible war with France, Washington served until his death on 14 Dec 1799. [2]