George Washington (1732 - 1799) was an American military officer, statesman and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He had earlier commanded the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War. [1]
Early life
George Washington was born on 22 February 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He worked as a surveyor and served as an officer in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War, gaining early military experience. [1]
The Revolutionary War
In 1775 Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in the war for independence from Britain. Over eight difficult years he held the army together, and his victory at Yorktown in 1781 effectively secured American independence. [1][2]
Presidency and legacy
Washington presided over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution and, in 1789, was unanimously chosen as the first president. He served two terms and established many of the customs of the new office before voluntarily retiring, setting a precedent for the peaceful transfer of power. He died at his Mount Vernon estate in 1799. [3]
