1752
Washington inherits Mount Vernon

1774
Washington is a delegate at the First Continental Congress.

1775 Revolutionary War begins with the Battles at Lexington and Concord.

1776 Declaration of Independence is written.

1776 Washington's troops cross the Delaware River and win a key battle at Trenton, New Jersey.

1777 Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation.

1781 British General Conwallis surrenders to Washington at Yorktown.

1787 Washington leads the convention in Philadelphia where the U.S. Constitution is drafted.

1788 The Constitution is ratified by the states.

1789 At the first session of Congress, Washington is elected President.

1789 John Adams is appointed Vice President.

1792 George Washington is reelected President.

1794 Jay Treaty is signed.

1795 Northwest Indians sign the Treaty of Fort Greenville. This gives most of Ohio to the U.S.

1796 Washington declines a third term. Adams beats Jefferson in the election.

1799 George Washington dies.

George Washington
1789 - 1797
First President

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Interesting note: Washington was born on February 11, 1731, based on the Julian calendar then in use in the British Colonies. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the English Colonies (1752), he opted to begin observing his birth date anniversary on the equivalent date of February 22, 1732. (See Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington's_Birthday)

His father died when George was 11.

The tale of George cutting down the cherry tree was created by Parson Weems. It is not true.

George liked to explore caves.

When he was 20, he inherited Mount Vernon. That made him on of the largest land holders in Virginia. Washington added new land until Mount Vernon covered over 8,000 acres.

George Washington married Martha Dandridge Curtis. He was 26 and she was 27. She was a widow and had two children.

Washington owned slaves. He freed his slaves in his will when he died.

Washington at Mount Vernon.

He was about six feet two inches tall and weighed abut 175 pounds. Later in life his weight went up to about 200 pounds.

George Washington - Commander in Chief of Continental Army during the American Revolution.

"Washington Taking Control of the American Army,
at Cambridge, Mass. July 1775." Copy of lithograph by Currier & Ives, 1876.
National Archives and Records Administration

He had no children of his own. He did adopt his wife's two children from a previous marriage.

President Washington was the only president who was unanimously elected. He ran unopposed for both terms.

George Washington's Vice President was John Adams (1789-1797).

Washington was the only president who didn't represent a political party.

George was the only President who was inaugurated in two cities, New York and Philadelphia.

President George Washington did not live in the White House, the capital was in Philadelphia at that time. He is the only President that didn't live in the White House.

President Washington was one of seven Presidents from Virginia.

George Washington had false teeth that were carved from, whale bone, rhinoceros ivory and deer antlers. Some sources I have read say they didn't contain any wood. He still had one tooth when he was elected President.

Washington was one of three Presidents who had adopted children.

Washington loved cream of peanut soup.

George loved horses. Before riding he insisted that the horse be cleaned from head to hoof. He even had his helpers brush the horses teeth.

He is considered to be one of Americas greatest Presidents.

While he was President, Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee were admitted as states.

He had several dogs their names were Sweet Lips, Taster, Tipler, Forester, Vulcan, Madame Moose, and Searcher.

George Washington was one of the richest men in America. Things named after him: 1 state, 7 mountains, 8 streams, 10 lakes, 33 counties, 9 colleges, and 121 towns and villages.

He liked to fish.

President Washington's second Inaugural Address was the shortest in history. It was only 135 words long.

His farewell address in 1796 was printed in the newspaper but was never delivered orally.

George Washington died of a throat infection on Dec. 14, 1799, some time after 10 p.m. at Mount Vernon, Virginia. He was 67.

When he died Congress (Delivered by Light Horse Harry Lee.) made this statement: “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

Quotes:

"The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon." July 28, 1795

Quick Notes:

First President 1789-1797

Born: Feb22nd, 1752

Wife:Martha Washington

1st Term: April 30, 1789

2nd Term: March 4 1795

Party: Federalist

Died: Mount Vernon, Va. Dec. 14, 1799, age 67

This book features George Washington. An excellent book about 1776..

Or Enjoy the Video

References:

• The Presidents of the United States. 22 September 2004
• Davis, Gibbs and Ilus. David A. Johnson. Wackiest White House Pets. New York: Scholastic Press, October 2004
• James, Barber and Amy Pastan. Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies. New York: DK Publishing, 2002
• Harnsberger, Caroline Thomas. Treasury of Presidential Quotations. Chicago: Follett Publishing Company, 1964
• Kane, Joseph Natan. Facts about the Presidents from Washington to Johnson. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1964.
• National Park Service Web Site on Presidential Trivia: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/pres/trivia.htm.

Additional Sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents
http://www.historyplace.com/specials/portraits/presidents/index.html
www.freep.com
http://www.umkc.edu/imc/prestriv.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/4062/trivia.html
http://www.freep.com/news/inaug/trivia/index.htm
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

If you have comments or corrections, please send them to jim@anewadventure.org.