George Washington

This story is about the 1st President of the United States of America, George Washington. He accomplished many things throughout his career that have helped to shape our Country into the way it is today.

I was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. I am the oldest of 6 children. I had to move around a lot. We first moved to Little Hunting Creek Plantation, that was later named Mount Vernon. Then, we moved to Ferry Farm where I spent most of my childhood.

There is little that I remember from my childhood, except for when I threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Then there was that time I chopped down my father's prize cherry tree. I was scared at first, but then I told him what I had did.

From age 7 to 15 I was home schooled. Even though I was very lucky to have had an education, I learned most of my knowledge through being around backwoodsman and the plantation foreman. By the time I was a teenager, I had mastered growing tobacco, stock raising, and surveying.

When I was only 20 years old my half-brother died and I became the owner of all of the family land, including Mount Vernon. Because of Mount Vernon, I have always loved farming. Over the years I bought a lot of land and owned up to 8,000 acres.

I was ranked as a major in the Virginia militia. I was sent to Ohio to tell the French to remove themselves from the land that was claimed by Britain. They said no. So, I came back with troops and we fought the French. This was the start of the French and Indian War.

In 1755 I was given the rank of Colonel. I joined British General Edward Braddock's army in Virginia. The French and the Indians decided to team up when we attacked them. They captured my General, but I escaped after having 4 bullet holes in my cloak and having 2 horses shot out from under me.

By age 23 I was made Commander of all British troops. I was sent to the frontier to protect the border, but my troops did not mind and my Colonel did not support me. After we won back the Ohio Valley, I returned home back to Mount Vernon where I retired.

A month after I left the army I married Martha Dandridge Custis. She came from a very wealthy family that had 18,000 acres of land. I got to keep 6,000 acres for myself. All of this land and money made the army want me back.