George Washington, born at Pope’s Creek, near Bridge’s Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732, was the son of Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Ball. His earliest known ancestor in this country was John Washington, who came to Virginia from England in 1657. Augustine Washington died when George was but twelve years of age, leaving to his widow the care of five children and a large property. George’s education was such as was afforded by the local schools, but included surveying,—an important branch at that time. Ever thoughtful of the feelings of others, at the age of thirteen he formulated for his own guidance a set of one hundred and ten “rules of civility and decent behavior in company and conversation.” The next year his half-brother Lawrence obtained a midshipman’s warrant for him, which he was most anxious to accept, but gave up because of his mother’s opposition. At the age of sixteen he was absent from home for several weeks, while surveying for Lord Fairfax. Delighting in military exercises and outdoor sports, he grew tall, strong, and well proportioned, and at nineteen was chosen adjutant-general with the rank of major, to inspect and exercise the militia of his district. The same year he accompanied Lawrence on a trip to Barbadoes, the doctor having recommended change of climate for the improvement of the latter’s health. Having kept a journal of his surveying trip in 1748, he resumed the record of his life with great minuteness during this his only sea voyage. Returning after four months, he soon after received the sad intelligence of Lawrence’s death, and found himself, young as he was, one of his brother’s executors and the guardian of his only child. Neither the widow nor the orphan long survived; and upon their demise, Mount Vernon passed to George. At this time he joined the Masons. The records of the Fredericksburg Lodge show the presence of Washington for the first time “on the 4th of November, 1752.”

“November 6, 1752, received of Mr. George Washington for his entrance £2 3s.”

“March 3, 1753, George Washington passed Fellow Craft.”

“August 4, 1753, George Washington raised Master Mason.”

In 1753, the encroachments of the French awakening serious alarm, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia selected Major Washington to carry a demand, in the name of the English monarch, that the chain of forts along the Alleghany and Ohio rivers should be abandoned. The mission was both a difficult and dangerous one; and failing in its object, active preparations were begun in the colonies for the war that was now unavoidable. In 1754, Washington was appointed lieutenant-colonel of one of the Virginia regiments, and in July distinguished himself by his brave defence of Fort Necessity at Great Meadows, which he was compelled at length to surrender. In 1755, General Braddock, as commander-in-chief of the royal forces in America, invited Colonel Washington to act as aide-de-camp during an expedition having for its ultimate object the reduction of the French forts of Niagara and Crown Point. Ignorant of the modes of Indian warfare, and disregarding his aid’s warning and advice, Braddock suffered a terrible defeat, and lost his life at Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg. The chaplain of the army being also among the wounded, Washington read the burial service over Braddock at Great Meadows,—the scene of his own capitulation one year before. A second expedition in 1757 against the same fort, led by General Forbes, the advance guard being commanded by Washington, resulted in its capture and the change of name. On the 6th of January, 1759, he was married to Martha Custis, daughter of John Dandridge, and widow of a wealthy planter, John Parke Custis. The wedding ceremony was performed by Reverend John Mossum in St. Peter’s Church, Kent County, and was one of the most brilliant affairs of the kind ever celebrated in Virginia.

“The groom’s suit was of blue cloth, the coat lined with red silk and ornamented with silver trimmings; his waistcoat, of embroidered white satin; his knee-buckles, of gold; his hair was tied in a queue and powdered. The bride’s costume was a quilted white satin petticoat, a rich white silk overdress with diamond buckles and pearl ornaments.”

Among the guests, who were all in full courtdress, were the governor, many members of the Legislature, British officers, and the neighboring gentlefolk. Bishop, a tall negro, Washington’s valet,—to whom he was much attached, and who had accompanied him on all his military campaigns,—stood in the porch, dressed in the scarlet uniform of a soldier of George II. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mrs. Washington and her three bridesmaids drove from the church to her own home, the “White house on the Pamunkey River,” in a coach drawn by six horses, led by liveried postilions; while Colonel Washington and an escort of cavaliers rode at the side. Having retired from the army, he occupied himself with the care of his large estate. Elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, when he took his seat the Speaker presented him the thanks of the colony for his former distinguished military services. Washington rose, stammered, trembled, but could make no fitting response. The Speaker relieved his embarrassment by saying, “Sit down, Mr. Washington! your modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language I possess!” As a delegate in 1774 to the first Continental Congress, during the prayer with which Dr. DuchÉ opened the meetings, Washington knelt while the other members stood. Re-elected in 1775, he was unanimously chosen commander-in-chief on the 17th of June, his commission reading as follows:—

Saturday, June 17, 1775.

To George Washington, Esq.

We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be General and Commander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised or to be raised by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their services and join the said army for the defence of American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. And you are hereby vested with full power and authority to act as you shall think for the good and welfare of the service. And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties.

And we do also enjoin and require you to be careful in executing the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly exercised, and provided with all convenient necessaries.

And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war (as herewith given you), and punctually to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of these United Colonies, or Committee of Congress.

This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress.

By order of the Congress.

Accepting with hesitation, Washington said:—

“But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, that I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with. As to pay, I beg leave to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit of it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I desire.”

Washington’s history during the next eight years is the history of the Revolution, for he was the animating spirit and the controlling power throughout that great struggle. On the 2d of November, 1783, he took final leave of the army, and resigned his commission on the following 23d of December. Retiring to Mount Vernon, which he had visited but once during the war, he resumed the peaceful life of a country gentleman. These were happy days, his time being fully occupied with his large estate, which required a tour of inspection each day. His servants were many; but he gave personal attention to their welfare. His guests were numerous; yet all were entertained with a bountiful hospitality. One ceremony was never omitted at Mount Vernon, and that was a daily visit to his old war-horse, Nelson, to pat his head. Washington rode him when receiving the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The war ended, Nelson’s work was over; carefully tended, he lived to a good old age, but by his master’s strict orders, no service was ever again required of him.

In 1784, Washington crossed the Alleghanies to visit his lands in western Virginia, and planned the Potomac and the James River canals. In 1787, he was sent as a delegate to the convention held in Philadelphia for the purpose of deciding on the best mode of governing the United States. The result of their labors was the federal Constitution, under the provisions of which Washington was unanimously chosen first President, with John Adams as Vice-President. Owing to a delay in the assembling of the members of the first National Congress, the inauguration could not take place until April 30, 1789. Washington’s journey from Mount Vernon to New York, temporarily the seat of government, was the triumphant progress of a hero; young and old, rich and poor, vied with one another to do him honor. Being re-elected, he took his second oath of office on the 4th of March, 1793. Appreciating the fact that America’s true policy was to keep clear of all European alliances, on the 22d of April of the same year, he issued his famous proclamation of neutrality, to restrain the United States from taking any part in the French Revolution.

Wearied with his long public service, and not deeming it for the best interests of the country that he should enter upon a third term, on the 16th of September, 1796, Washington published his “Farewell Address.” His tenure of office expiring on the 4th of March, 1797, he once more sought the tranquil enjoyment of life at Mount Vernon. War-clouds were gathering on the horizon; and when hostilities with France seemed inevitable, he again responded to the call of his country, and accepting on the 3d of July, 1798, the appointment of lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief, began the organization of an army. The difficulties were, however, settled without an appeal to arms, though Washington did not live to know it. Riding over his estate on the 12th of December, 1799, during a snow-storm, he contracted a severe chill from which he never seemed to rally, and died on the 14th, saying to Dr. Craik, his physician, “I die hard; but I am not afraid to go.” His funeral occurred on the 18th, Reverend Thomas Davis preaching the sermon, a schooner lying in the Potomac firing minute-guns, and his favorite horse being led after the coffin. Richard Henry Lee pronounced a eulogy before both Houses of Congress, in which occurred the since oft-quoted words,—“first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Napoleon ordered all the standards and flags in the French army to be bound with crape for ten days, and the British fleet of sixty ships-of-the-line, lying at Torbay, England, lowered their flags to half-mast upon hearing the sad intelligence. Sincerely mourned by the whole civilized world, his memory to-day is cherished as that of no other man has ever been, and the passing years but add to the lustre of his fame. Beautifully has it been said of him, “Providence left him childless that his country might call him father.”