Washington, George (Administration of)

The first president of the United States, George Washington (1732–99) was called the “Father of His Country” for leading the victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington. Washington's father died in 1743, and the younger Washington, then 11, went to live with his half-brother, Lawrence. Washington did not attend college but developed excellent handwriting, became a skilled and prolific writer, and was ...