Washington, George (1732–1799)

NICKNAMED “The Father of Our Country,” George Washington profoundly influenced America in the late 18th century. A gentleman, landowner, surveyor, military leader, and politician, Washington dominated the Revolutionary War as commander in chief of the Continental forces and following the ratification of the Constitution, he was unanimously selected by the Electoral College to be the first president of the United States. Washington is remembered as one of America's greatest patriots.

Born to a well-off family of Virginia planters, Washington was the eldest son of his father's second wife. His father died in 1743 and the young Washington was sent to live with his half-brother, Lawrence, on Lawrence's Mount Vernon estate. Lawrence had married into a prominent Virginia family, the Fairfaxes, and Washington was welcomed into this ...