WASHINGTON, GEORGE

(173299), first president of the U.S.A., born at Bridge’s Creek, Virginia. At the age of sixteen he became surveyor of the estates of Lord Fairfax, a relative. He joined the army later, and under Colonel y drove the French out of Pennsylyania. He was on the staff of General Edward Braddock at the time of his disastrous defeat in 1753. On his marriage he resigned his commi ion and settled down at Mount Vernon, and managed his wife’s large estates, He was sent as a delegate to both the first and second Continental Congre e s, and after the second, he undertook the fortify in g of New York. He was chosen unanimously by the colonies to be commander-in-chief of the forces in Wit Asy, when war with Great Britain was declared. He planned the expeditions against Canada, and in 1776 drove the British out of Boston. He proved a very commander, and disciplined and able trained well his troops, mostly citizen volunteers. His fellow-officers resented his friendship with Lafayette, and. there were many jealousies and_backbitings. He was a great general. His campaign of York town, resulting in the surrender Cornwall is, ended the war. Peace of concluded, W. returned to Mount Vernon. He took no salary as commander or as president. He presided in-chief Federal Convent i on held at over the Philadelphia, May 1787, when the Conof the U.S.A. was formed an stitution was naturally elected as first president on the union of the original thirteen states a few months later. He made a good president, and was re-elected after the first four years. He absolutely refused to stand for a third term, thus creating a precedent. He paid official visits to New England, 1789 and 1790, but was e entially a true Southerner. He was a Federalist, and during his second presidency became unpopular with the Democratic republicans. He gave offence, too, by his Treaty of Neutrality during the war between England and France. The attacks of the pre and enmity of former political friends embittered his last years. He died at Mount Vernon, Va. He was a man of great strength of will, and he had a strong personality. He holds a unique place in the history of the Republic, which owes to him its very existence. He vigorously put down the Whiskey Insurrection, a political intrigue, with a high hand, and the people began to fear a military despotism. He alone of his contemporaries realized the greatne of the nation he was founding.