Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 22, 1732, George Washington was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington. His five younger brothers and sisters were Elizabeth, Samuel, John, Augustine, Charles, and Mildred (who died in infancy). Washington's two half brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, were fourteen and twelve years older than he, but the three boys liked and respected one another.1

When Washington was three the family moved to a larger plantation further up the Potomac River. It was called Epsewasson, or Little Hunting Creek, from the name of the stream it faced. Young Washington grew to love the estate with a passion that lasted all his life. Some years later Augustine bought a farm on the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, and moved the family there. The plantation, Ferry Farm, was the place w

In 1748, Washington went to live with his half brother, Lawrence, at Mount Vernon. Lawrence, who became something of a substitute father for Washington, had married into the Fairfax family, prominent and powerful Virginians who helped launch Washington's career. An early ambition to become a naval officer had been discouraged by Washington's mother; instead he turned to surveying.4 Lord Fairfax, a cousin of Lawrence's wife and master of more than five million Virginia acres, was fond of Washington and hired him to help survey his holdings beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. The work was difficult, but Washington did well. In about a year, the surveying was completed, and, partly through Fairfax's influence, Washington was appointed surveyor of Culpeper County, his first public office. He took the oath of office on July 20, 1749.5

Washington was reelected president in 1792, and might have been president a third term, but he refused to run again. In March 1797, when Washington left office, the country's financial system was well established and the Indian threat east of the Mississippi River had been largely eliminated. His vice-president, John Adams, succeeded him.10

In 1755, Washington volunteered to join General Braddock and a large army to attack Fort Duquesne. Despite Washington's warnings, Braddock's troops marched in typical European fashion-long rows of men, drums beating and banners flying. For the French and Indians hiding in the woods and behind rocks, it was little more than target practice. Out of 1,400 officers and men, three fourths were killed or wounded; even Braddock himself was killed.7

Washington was America's "father" in many ways. He was commander in chief of the American forces in the American Revolution, chairman of the convention that wrote the United States constitution, and the

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