Washington, George

Washington, George (1732-99), American soldier and President.

George Washington was the first President of the United States of America.

As a young man, he served with the British Army in America and took part in several clashes with the French. Afterwards, he settled down on an estate at Mount Vernon in Virginia.

In the reign of King George III (1760-1820), people living in America began to protest against taxes they had to pay to Britain and Washington became one of the leaders in the protest.

The War of Independence broke out in 1775, for the American colonists wanted to be free of England. Washington was placed in charge of the American armies.

The war lasted six years, ending in October 1781. The British General, Lord Cornwallis, surrendered to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.

After this, the leaders of the thirteen states of America spent a long time thinking about the way they should be run. In 1787, they drew up a set of rules for running the new country which was to be known as the United States of America. It was to have a president and the man chosen for the post, in 1789, was George Washington.

After four years, he had to resign according to the rules but he was re-elected.

He retired in 1797 at the age of sixty-five.

See Jay A. Parry The Real George Washington