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George Washington 1732 - 1799 First US President |
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Washington has been called the father of the United States.
Rather than becoming a king he initiated a peaceful transfer of
power on the end of his second term as President.
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA. Having studied military science on his own, Washington began several years' service (1753-58) with the Virginia militia in the French and Indian Wars. He resigned his commission in 1758, following his election to the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1774 he participated in the First Continental Congress and took command of the Virginia militia; next year the Second Congress made him commander in chief of the Continental army. Washington led the American forces skillfully through the Revolution. His victory over the British at Yorktown (1781) effectively ended the war. He returned home in 1783, but later chaired the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention. In 1789, the first electors unanimously voted Washington as president. During his two terms (1789 - 1797) Washington had some difficulties in controlling the growing factionalism between the more conservative forces of Hamilton's Federalist Party and Jefferson's liberal Democratic - Republican Party. In 1796 he announced he would not run again and retired from office the next year. |
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www link : Biography
The American Revolution First Inaugural Address, 1789 |