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Birth
George Washington is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Ball -
Moving his family
Washington family moves to Ferry Farm (a plantation on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg); George Washington spends most of his youth here -
Father's his dies
Augustine Washington, George’s father, dies. George Washington is only 11 years old. Although George Washington is the older child of his household, Augustine leaves most of his property to his sons from his first marriage. Following the death of his father, George Washington’s formal education ended. Washington inherited 10 slaves from his father’s estate. -
Appointment as a county surveyor
: George Washington is appointed county surveyor of the frontier county of Culpeper. He was seventeen years old. -
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George's journey
George Washington travels to Barbados with his half-brother Lawrence in an attempt to cure the latter of a respiratory illness. George contracts smallpox while he is on the island. The trip is the only time George Washington travels outside of the North American continent. -
Unsuccessful campaign
The Governor of Virginia sends Major George Washington to the Ohio Valley to deliver to the French a message that the French must leave the area .A few months later, Major Washington and soldiers to the Ohio Valley to fight for Virginia’s claim of the land. Washington’s men engaged in a confrontation with French soldiers.After that, Washington and its men retreated to Fort Necessity, where Washington was forced to surrender. This unsuccessful campaign also caused the French and Indian War. -
Return to Ohio
Washington returns to the Ohio frontier as a volunteer aide for General Braddock. During a battle between the French and the British near the Monongahela River, Washington exhibited great courage and leadership. He was later recognized for his conduct in battle with a promotion and was given command of the entire military force of Virginia. -
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Gentleman Farmer
George Washington was a Gentleman Farmer at Mount Vernon in the years between his marriage to Martha and the onset of the American Revolution. Washington experimented with different farming techniques while also expanding his home at Mount Vernon. -
Marriage
George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. A native of the Tidewater region of Virginia, Martha Custis was a young widow who had inherited an enormous amount of wealth after the passing of her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, and was the mother of two young children, Jacky and Patsy. Following their marriage, the newlywed couple, Jacky, and Patsy moved to Mount Vernon. -
Commander of the Continental Army
The newly formed Congress appointed George Washington to be the commander of the Continental Army. Washington would hold this position for the entirety of the American Revolution, totaling eight years. -
Declared a hero around the world
Following the end of the American Revolution, Washington addressed Congress on December 23 in Annapolis and resigned his commission. Through this action, Washington gave the power back to the people and was declared a hero around the world. -
elected president of the constitutional assembly
Although determined to retire from public life after the Revolutionary War, Washington enters the public sphere and is unanimously elected president of what is now known as the Constitutional Convention. -
Elected first president of the united states
George Washington is unanimously elected as first President of the United States -
second term as President
Washington begins his second term as President -
Resignation from the presidency
Refusing a third term, Washington retired from the presidency and all public life. By leaving office after two terms, Washington set a precedent that has been held to by most of the American presidents who followed him. He returns to Mount Vernon and enjoys a peaceful retirement. -
Death
George Washington passed away on December 14 from a throat infection called epiglottitis in his bedroom at Mount Vernon. He was surrounded by close friends and his wife Martha.
