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| | | Short Biography of George Washington Date of Birth: Born on February 22, 1732 Place of Birth : Westmoreland County, Virginia Wife: Martha Dandridge Background Facts, Information & Ancestry : Through several lines of ancestry, Washington can trace descent from English royalty. | |
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| | 1732 | February 22: Born in Popes Creek Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father was Augustine "Gus" Washington (1693–1743) and his mother was Mary Ball Washington (1708–1789) | |
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| | 1749 | Appointed official surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia | |
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| | 1753 | French and Indian War: Washington given rank of major and he was sent to assess the strength of the French at Ohio Country Valley | |
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| | 1754 | Washington received a commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Washington successfully attacked the French camp near present Jumonville Lieutenant Colonel Washington built Fort Necessity but was forced to surrender it to overwhelming French and Indian forces | |
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| | 1755 | July 9 Battle of the Monongahela: Serving under General Edward Braddock the troops were ambushed and defeated by the French and Indians October: Governor Dinwiddie appoints Washington as commander in chief of all Virginia forces with the new rank of colonel | |
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| | 1758 | Forbes Expedition: Successfully droving the French away from Fort Duquesne Failed to secure a commission as a British officer and turned to working as a planter and politician | |
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| | 1759 | January 6: Married Wealthy widow Mrs. Martha Dandridge Custis. The marriage was childless but the couple raised her two children, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, from her previous marriage | |
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| | 1769 | May: George Mason writes resolutions presented by George Washington to the Virginia House of Burgesses opposing taxation without representation | |
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| | 1774 | Elected delegate to the First Continental Congress | |
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| | 1775 | By this year Washington owned 6,500 acres at Mount Vernon, with over 100 slaves April 19 Shots fired at Lexington and Concord where weapons depot destroyed - refer to Revolutionary Battles June 15: Appointed general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army | |
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| | 1776 | July 4: Signed the Declaration of Independence September 16: Battle of Harlem Heights where Washington's army repulses British attack October 28: Battle of White Plains force General Washington to retreat to the west pursued by Cornwallis December 26: Washington crosses the Delaware River and captures a Hessian force (German mercenaries) at the Battle of Trenton, New Jersey | |
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| | 1777 | September 11: General Washington defeated at the Battle of Brandywine | |
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| | 1778 | June 27/28: The Battle of Monmouth occurs in New Jersey as Washington's troops and General. Clinton's troops fight to a standoff July 8: General Washington sets up headquarters at West Point July 10: France declares war against Britain | |
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| | 1779 | August 14: A peace plan is approved by Congress stipulating independence and British evacuation of America | |
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| | 1781 | October 19: The British army surrenders at Yorktown - a devastating effect on the British | |
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| | 1783 | February 4: England officially declares an end to hostilities in America September 3: The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Great Britain November 2: George Washington delivers farewell address to the army December 23: Washington resigns his commission as commander-in-chief to the Congress of the Confederation. | |
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| | 1784 | January 14: The Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress and the American Revolutionary War officially ends. | |
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| | 1787 | May 25: Elected President of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia | |
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| | 1789 | Unanimously Elected first President of the United States April 30:Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States in New York City. He was addressed as "Mr. President" June 1: President Washington signed the first act of Congress concerning the administration of oaths Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs (now the Department of State) | |
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| | 1790 | The first national census took place | |
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| | 1791 | Congress imposed an excise tax on distilled spirits which led to the Whiskey rebellion December 15: The Bill of Rights became law. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States guarantee basic liberties to Americans | |
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| | 1792 | Congress established a national mint. | |
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| | 1793 | Re-elected President of the United States April 22: Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation to keep the United States out of the war between France and Great Britain | |
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| | 1794 | The Whisky Rebellion August 7: Washington invoked the Militia Law of 1792 to suppress the Pennsylvania farmers who refused to pay the federal whisky tax. November 19: The Jay Treaty to maintain trade with Great Britain | |
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| | 1796 | Published his Farewell Address which was issued as a public letter | |
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| | 1797 | March: Washington returned to Mount Vernon | |
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| | 1798 | July 4: Commissioned Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of the new United States Army to serve as a warning to France, with which war seemed imminent. | |
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| | 1799 | December 14: Died at Mount Vernon at the age of 67. He arranged for his slaves to be freed in his last will and testament | |
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