George Washington was born February 22, 1732, in Virginia to a family owning large farmlands.

In 1753, he became a major of the Virginia Militia in the French and Indian War and soon rose to Colonel and Commander of the Militia.

In 1759, he married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow and mother of two children. Washington enjoyed plantation life at Mount Vernon and became a member of the House of Burgesses.

In 1775, after discord with Britain, George Washington was elected Commander-in-Chief of the patriot armed forces by the Continental Congress.

Through years of constant hardship and frequent defeat during the American Revolution, George Washington led the patriot troops to final victory.

Several years after the war, Washington returned to public service as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 for the composition of the Constitution of the United States.

The Electoral College elected Washington as the first President in 1789. During his first term, he successfully achieved solutions to four major crises facing the new nation: 1) organization of a new government; 2) structuring finances; 3) forming cordial relations with Great Britain; 4) making peaceful treaties with Native Indian tribes.

During his second term, Washington overcame the major problems of: 1) difficulties in foreign relations due to war in Europe; 2) the Whiskey Rebellion; 3) criticism from the Democratic Republican Party.

Washington refused a third term as President and returned to his beloved plantation, Mount Vernon, where he died December 14, 1799.

George Washington was instrumental in achieving victory in the Revolutionary War and the driving force in forming our new nation's government.

He was the father of our country and truly a great man.