George Washington- Quick Facts Essay, Research Paper

George Washington was born on February 22 (Feb. 11 on the Julian calendar), 1732. He had no middle name. He was born at Wakefield estate near Bridges Creek in Westmoreland County, VA, 40 miles south of Mount Vernon.

Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, while living in Virginia. He served as president from 1789-1797. There was no other person running, as Washington was appointed to office rather than truely elected. His vice president was John Adams, who would later become president when Washington resigned from office.

He was married on January 6, 1759 to Martha Dandridge Custis, widow of Daniel Parke Custis. She had two children from the marriage to Parke, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, both of whom Washington legally adopted in 1761.

When George was only 11 years old (1743), his father, Augustine, died, leaving his estate to George’s half brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, Jr. As a young man, Washington took the job of a land surveyor in Fairfax county, Virginia. He joined the military in 1752, taking the place of the deceased Lawrence after persuading the governor to let him do so.

Before Washington became president, he held several positions: Representative to Frederick County in the House Of Burgesses, a member of the Fairfax County landholders, Justice of the Fairfax County court, elected delegate to the first continental congress by Virginia, and Commander-in-Chief of the military in 1775.

The most important and most prominent event to take place during Washington’s term was the revolutionary war against England. His greatest honor was being appointed the first president of the United States.

Washington died on December 14, 1799. An interesting fact about him was that, during his lifetime, he wrote some 18,000-20,000 letters.