Washington, George
first president of the United States, was born Feb. 22, 1732, in the county of Westmoreland, Va. His father, Augustine Washington, and his mother, Mary Ball, had six children-four sons and two daughters- George being the eldest. He received a common English education, and at the age of nineteen was appointed one of the adjutant-generals of his state, with the rank of major. He was soon after appointed colonel, which position he held until 1758. At the age of twenty-seven he married Mrs. Martha Custis, a wealthy widow about three months his junior, and the mother of two children. In 1759 he was elected to the house of burgesses, and continued to be returned to that body for fifteen years, with the exception of short intervals, and officiating as justice of the peace. In 1774 Washington was elected one of the delegates to represent Virginia in the first continental congress, at Philadelphia, and held the office until June 15, 1775, when he was appointed by that body commander-in-chief of the American army. He held that position until he brought the revolutionary war to a successful termination; then he returned to Annapolis, where congress was in session, and resigned his commission Dec. 23, 1783. In May, 1787, he was elected to the convention which met in Philadelphia for the purpose of framing a constitution, and was chosen to preside over its deliberations. The convention succeeded in framing our present constitution of the United States, and it was adopted by that body Sept. 17, 1787. As soon as the constitution had been ratified by a sufficient number of states they proceeded to elect a president. George Washington was unanimously elected by the electoral college in April, 1789, receiving sixty-nine votes. These were the votes of only ten states; two of the thirteen original states had not yet ratified the constitution, and New York had not passed an electoral law. He took the oath of office April 30, 1789, at Federal hall, in the city of New York. At the expiration of his first term he was unanimously re-elected by the electoral college, and took the oath of office, March 4, 1793, at Philadelphia. On the 4th of March, 1797, his second presidential term closed, and he retired to his farm at Mount Vernon, determined to pass the remainder of his days in retirement. In July, 1798, the rank and title of lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of all the armies of non. the United States was conferred upon him by congress on account of difficulties with France, but he did not find it necessary to take the field. He held the commission until his death, which occurred Dec. 14, 1799, and his body was deposited in the family tomb at Mount Ver- Colonel Henry Lee said in a memorial address before congress that he was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Washington held political office about twentyfive years, and military positions about fifteen years. He left an estate valued at $800,000.
WASHINGTON, GEORGE CORBIN, lawyer, congressman, was born Aug. 20, 1789, in Westmoreland county, Va. He represented Maryland in congress from 1827 to 1833, and from 1835 to 1837. He was also a president of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and a commissioner for the settlement of Indian claims. He died July 17, 1854, in Georgetown, D. C.