Everything You Need to Know About George Washington

George Washington Timeline

• 1731/32*
  Mr. Washington was born on February 22 to Augustine and Mary Washington at the Wakefield Farm, in Virginia.
  *1731 by the Julian Calendar, 1732 by the Gregorian (new) Calendar. The current calendar was adopted by the colonies in 1752 and began the new year in January instead of March.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1752
  After the death of his brother, Lawrence, in July, George inherited the deed to Mount Vernon.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1753
  Washington was made a Major and in November, he was sent to test France's strength in Ohio.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1754
  Washington had some victories over French forces in the spring, and he built Fort Necessity at Great Meadows, Pennsylvania.
  On May 27, he defeated a French scouting party but was forced to surrender Fort Necessity after brief battle.
  By October, Washington resigned commission, later he rejoined to work under Edward Braddock.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1755
  On July 9, the British were defeated by the French at Monongahela River and Braddock is killed. Despite defeat, Washington achieved recognition in official circles for bravery under fire.
  In August, he was appointed commander of the reorganized Virginia colonial forces.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1758
  In November, Washington commanded 700 men from four colonies to defeat the French and finally capture Fort Duquesne. Shortly thereafter, he resigned as commander of Virginia's colonial forces to attend to private affairs. He was elected to a term in the House of Burgesses from Frederick County. He remained in office for 15 years.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1759
  On January 6, Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. He took over parental care of her children, Martha (Patsy) and John Parke (Jacky).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1774
  Washington was elected a delegate to the First Continental Congress.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1775
  He was elected to the Second Continental Congress and elected the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He led them in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1776
  On July 4, the Declaration of Independence was signed. In December, Washington and his troops 2 trips across the Delaware. One on their way to battle and the other to bring their prisoners back after Victory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1781
  Washington and his troops were victorious over the British at Yorktown.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1783
  On December 23, Washington submits his resignation as Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1787
  Washington is elected President of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on May 25th.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1789
  He is unanimously elected the first President of the United States.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1792
  The Bill of Rights is signed into law on December 15th.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1793
  Washington is reelected President, unanimously. On April 22, Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation, which kept the United States out of the war between France and Great Britain.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1796
  Washington issued his Farewell Address as a letter. He also refused the third term he could have easily won.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1797
  In March, Washington returned home to Mount Vernon.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1798
  As a warning to France, Washington was commissioned Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of the new United States Army on July 4th. War seemed likely between the two countries at the time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1799
  On December 14, George Washington died at Mount Vernon. He was 67 years old and in his will arranged for all of his slaves to be freed.