George+Washington

=**GEORGE WASHINGTON**= toc George Washington [February 22, 1732- December 14, 1799] was one of the main colonels who fought in the Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress appointed George as the Commander-in-Chief. He was the first president of the United States. He also served in the French and Indian War, and many more wars to come.

**EARLY LIFE AND CAREER**
He was born in Westmoreland Country, Va., on February 22, 1732. George was the eldest son of Augustine Washington. He spent his first years on his family estate on Pope's Creek near the Potomac River. His dad died in 1783, and soon George went to live with his half brother Lawrence at Mt. Vernon. His plantation was on the Potomac. Lawrence married a woman who was from the Fairfax family, who helped launch George's career. Later, Lawrence died in 1752. George then inherited the Mount Vernon estate. By 1753 the rivalry between the British and French was soon going to erupt into the French and Indian War. It made new opportunities for George.

**WASHINGTON IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR**
Washington got public notice in 1753 when he volunteered to carry a message from the U.S. Government. When he was on his way to make a post at Forks, the French had already taken it. So he made one at Great Meadows. He named it Fort Necessity. When Washington tried to ambush the French, the French commander was killed, and lots more were captured. Later while he bas surrounded by enemies, his food supply was almost gone. He couldn't fight any longer, so he finally surrendered. There is a legend, that during the French and Indian War, he was shot 7 times, and lived! Later in the war, he resigned his commission. The next year he volunteered to join British general Edward Braddock's expedition against the French. When Braddock was ambushed by the French, Washington, even though he was sick, tried to control the Virginia troops. Washington's own military reputation was enhanced. He was then promoted to colonel and made commander-in-chief of the Virginia militia.

=AMERICAN REVOLUTION=

Washington took command of the troops surrounding the British controlled Boston on July 3rd, devoting the next several months to training. Washington was the public leader of an infant nation. In 1776, using cannons, Washington occupied Dorchester Heights. He then moved to defend New York, against the British. While going to Princeton, he routed the British, but in September and October, he got serious reverses in Pennsylvania, Brandywise, and Germantown. In 1730 the main parts of the war, moved to the south. Washington had gotten very popular after the war. After the war, Washington returned to Mount Vernon. It had declined during the time he was gone.



RECOURCES
info: http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.htmlhttp://sln.fi.edu/franklin/statsman/wshngtn.html http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/statsman/wshngtn.html

pics: [|http://agodword.com/thanksgiving/GeorgeWashington.jpeg] __http://www.visitingdc.com/images/george-washington-picture.jpg__