George Washington - Founding Father of the United States of America
He was one of the seven, key political leaders and statesmen who became a Founding Father of the United States of America. The seven Founding Fathers were George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The seven key "Founding Fathers" were either the "Signers of the Declaration of Independence" or the "Framers of the Constitution". George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence, he was considered a Founding Father due to his role in framing the Constitution.

Facts about George Washington
The following facts about George Washington provide interesting facts and an overview and description of the life and times and his involvement in the American Revolutionary War.

Fact 1: George Washington was born in on Pope's Creek Estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia Colony on February 22, 1732

Fact 2: His parents were Augustine Washington (1694–1743) and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington (1708–1789)

Fact 3: Augustine Washington belonged to the Colony of Virginia's landed gentry. He owned a tobacco plantation worked by slaves and Indentured servants. He later became involved in iron-mining ventures.

Fact 4: The ancestors of George Washington were from Purleigh, Essex, England and his great-grandfather, John Washington owned an estate in South Cave, East Yorkshire, had immigrated from England to Virginia in 1657.

Fact 5: George Washington inherited the plantations and businesses owned by the family and was a member of Virginia's landed gentry.

Fact 6: George Washington was educated at an elementary school, an Anglican school near Fredericksburg and by private tutors.

Fact 7: The death of his father when George was 11 years old prevented him from finishing his education in England. His older half-brother, Lawrence, became a surrogate father to George Washington. Lawrence Washington was closely involved in the Ohio Company, a land investment company - George later acquired wealth through his own investments in land. Lawrence was also commander of the Virginia militia.

Fact 8: In 1751 he contracted smallpox during a trip to Barbados, which left his face slightly scarred. This immunized him against future exposures to the terrible disease in the Smallpox epidemics that swept. His brother Lawrence died in 1752.

Fact 9: In February 1753, George also joined the Virginia militia, with the rank of major.

Fact 10: In 1753 Washington joined the Freemasons association in Fredericksburg

Fact 11: George Washington gained his military experience leading Virginia militia during the French and Indian War (1754–1763). He fought in the Battle of Jumonville Glen, Battle of Fort Necessity and the Battle of the Monongahela. He also participated in the Forbes Expedition and the Braddock Expedition

Fact 12: His military experience enabled him to acquire tactical, strategic, and logistical skills. He tried, but was unable to get a commission in the British Army. He decided to resign from the provincial militia, get married, and return to his life of a Virginia plantation owner.

Fact 13: He tried, but was unable to get a commission in the British Army. He decided to resign from the provincial militia, get married, and return to his life of a Virginia plantation owner.

Fact 14: On January 6, 1759 he married Martha Dandridge Custis. Children: 2 step children - John "Jackie" Parke Custis (1754 - 1781) and Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis (1756 - 1773)

Fact 15: George Washington entered politics in 1759 when he was elected to , the Virginia House of Burgesses in which he served from 1759-1774

Fact 16: The British imposed the Stamp Act in 1765. It was the first direct tax on the colonies which Washington did not agree with, however, he did not take a leading role in the growing colonial resistance until protests of the Townshend Acts (enacted in 1767) became widespread in the colonies.

Fact 17: In 1769, George Washington, set about protesting the British policy of "taxation without representation," and brought a package of Nonimportation resolutions before the Virginia House of Burgesses which opposed Parliament's plan to send colonial political protestors to England for trial.

Fact 18: George Washington met many influential people at the House of Burgesses including Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams

Fact 19: The violent reaction of the colonists to the Stamp Act led to the emergence of the Sons of Liberty organisation.

Fact 20: On May 10, 1773 the Tea Act was passed - to the absolute fury of the colonists and led to the Boston Tea Party, one of the major Causes of the Revolutionary War.

Fact 21: The British retaliated the Boston Tea Party with the Intolerable Acts, intent on punishing Massachusetts. In August 1774, Washington was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress.

Fact 22: The colonies went to war following the Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord near Boston in April 1775

Fact 23: In 1775, John Adams nominated George Washington to be commander-in-chief of the army

Fact 24: Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775 and George Washington was charged with using his tactical, strategic and logistical skills in directing the war and organizing and training the army

Fact 25: He assumed command of the Continental Army in the field at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in July 1775, during the Siege of Boston that included the Battle of Chelsea Creek and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Fact 26: 1776: The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, by the congressional representatives of the 13 Colonies of Colonial America. George Washington was directly involved in many of the Revolutionary Battles. As a commander he lost many of his battles but he never surrendered his army which against all odds went on to achieve victory against the British.

Fact 27: The British surrender followed the Battle at Yorktown on October 17, 1781

Fact 28: The Peace Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed on September 3, 1783. Washington disbanded his army and, on November 2 1783, gave an eloquent farewell address to his soldiers.

Fact 29: On December 23, 1783, he formally resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army.

Fact 30: The Electoral College elected George Washington unanimously as the first president of the United States in 1789. The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Fact 31: He took the oath of office as the first President of the United States of America on April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City

Fact 32: He reluctantly served a second term as President in 1792 and refused to run for a third term

Fact 33: During the time he was President the Bill of Rights was passed in 1791, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was settled and the Constitution of the USA was established

Fact 34: He retired to his plantations and other business interests

Fact 35: George Washington died died at his home on Saturday, December 14, 1799, aged 67