George Washington was born at ten o'clock in the morning on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His parents were Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. George grew up near Fredericksburg, Virginia. As George grew up he worked hard and learned about geography, astronomy, arithmetic and surveying as well as the 110 rules of civility.

His father died when he was 11 years old and he in turn spent a large amount of time with his half brother Lawrence near the Potomac river. When George was 19 his beloved half-brother Lawrence died. With his career as a surveyor he gained a reputation of being very fair and honest. He the joined the Virginia Militia and served as an aide to British General Edward Braddock before becoming a colonel. He led soldiers in defending Virginia and when the war was over he met Martha Curtis and married her on January 6, 1759. One person described him as "straight as an Indian,...more than six feet two inches...about 175 pounds." His hair was reddish brown and his eyes were blue. By 1770 many colonists were becoming angry with England and he went to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress to discuss the problems imposed by the British. In 1775, Colonel Washington was elected to the Second Continental Congress. The Congress named George Washington Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

During the Revolution times were tough for Washington and his men but he had learned from the French and Indian War to make the most of his supplies and to keep his men healthy. His men became good soldiers because Washington demanded hard work and discipline. General Washington decided not to attack the British directly. Instead he would move his troops quickly and then strike by surprise. The British could not capture him. The years of fighting finally ended in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, when the British General Cornwallis surrendered.

After the war was won two of Washington's children had died and he returned home to Mount Vernon to live the rest of his life as a private citizen. However, the new states did not work well together. A Constitutional Convention was organized in Philadelphia and Washington was asked to preside over the convention. After weeks of long debates and many votes, the delegates worked out their differences. They wrote a new constitution for the nation with a democratic government. When the time came to elect a leader for the new government, George Washington was the unanimous choice.

On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States. The ceremony took place at Federal Hall in New York City. After completing two terms as president, Washington refused to be considered for a third term and returned home to Mount Vernon. On December 14, 1799, George Washington died at Mount Vernon at the age of 67.