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George Washington 1st President of the United States

(April 30, 1789 to March 3, 1797) Nickname: "Father of His Country" Born: February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia

Died: December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon, Virginia

Father: Augustine Washington

Mother: Mary Ball Washington

Married: Martha Dandridge Custis (1732-1802), on January 6, 1759

Children: John "Jack" Parke Custis (adopted); Martha "Patsy" Custis (adopted)

Religion: Episcopalian

Education: No formal education

Occupation: Planter, Soldier

Political Party: No formal political party affiliation, but see Points of Interest.

Other Government Positions:

Member of Virginia House of Burgesses, 1759-74

Member of Continental Congress, 1774-75

Chairman of the Constitutional Convention, 1787-88

Presidential Salary: $25,000/year (refused by Washington)

Vice President: John Adams (1789-97)

Cabinet:

Supreme Court Appointments:

Notable Events:

1789 The Judiciary Act specified the number of Federal courts and judges.

1790 Supreme Court met for the first time with John Jay as the Chief Justice.

1791 Federal capital established in swamplands on the Potomac. A national banking system established by the Bank Act. The Bill of Rights take effect.

1792 Post Office established by Congress as a separate entity. New York Stock Exchange organized. Coins are minted by the government as enacted by the Coinage Act.

1793 War breaks out between Britain and France. On April 22, U.S. declares neutrality.

1794 Whiskey Rebellion over excise tax in western Pennsylvania. Federal troops called to suppress the armed rebellion.

1795 The Jay Treaty ratified. British troops required to withdraw from the U.S. Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain opened navigation on Mississippi River. Washington posed for Stuart’s portrait, which is now on the one dollar bill.

1796 Washington delivered his Farewell Address.



Internet Biographies:

Historical Documents:

Other Internet Resources:

Points of Interest:

It can be argued that Washington aligned himself with members of the “Federalist Party”, but he never ran for the presidency for any political party. Moreover, his farewell address warned of the dangers of political parties.

Believing that shaking hands was beneath a president, Washington bowed to his visitors.

Washington has the distinction of being the only president to be elected unanimously by the electoral college.

Washington had one remaining tooth at the time of his inauguration. During his lifetime he wore dentures made of human (some his own), cow, or hippopotamus teeth, ivory, or lead, but he never wore wooden teeth.

Many places are named after Washington including the nation’s capital, the state, 31 counties and 17 communities.

The six white horses in Washington’s stables had their teeth brushed every morning on Washington’s orders.

The nation’s capital was located in Philadelphia during Washington’s administration making him the only president who didn’t live in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.

Next President: John Adams

©1996-2008. Robert S. Summers. All rights reserved.