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As Henry Lee later put it, Washington had become "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Still, there was a man behind the myth, and it was the combination of his characteristics, some innate and others carefully developed, that made Washington the obvious choice to take charge at this stage of the nascent country's history.

While the story of young Washington admitting to felling a cherry tree was invented by a biographer, the fable underscores the degree to which he was held as a person of impeccable character.

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Learning to control his ambitions and temper as a young man, he impressed colleagues with an even-keeled demeanor and adherence to strong moral values. Observed Abigail Adamswife of Washington's vice president, John Adams : "He is polite with dignity, affable without formality, distant without haughtiness, grave without austerity; modest, wise and good.

Washington's lofty reputation was upheld by his actions. He refused to be paid for commanding the Continental Army, only requesting to be reimbursed for expenses, and he resigned his military commission after his popularity surged at the close of the Revolution, putting his allegiance to the republic ahead of a desire for personal gain.

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Although he was born into the Virginia gentry, Washington did not travel abroad for the private education that was provided to his older half-brothers. So he was acutely aware of his perceived shortcomings and took pains to mold himself into a dignified gentleman. This involved the memorization of The Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversationa guide written by Jesuit priests years earlier, as well as the study of the noblemen in his life and acquired proficiency in activities like dancing, fencing and horsemanship.

Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Bush Bill Clinton George W. Upcoming Events Past Events Donate. Help inform the discussion Support the Miller Center. University of Virginia Miller Center. George Washington: Life in Brief. Breadcrumb U. Lindsay M. Life Before the Presidency. Campaigns and Elections. Domestic Affairs.

Foreign Affairs. Life After the Presidency. Family Life. Impact and Legacy. Instead, he became one of the greatest figures in American history. His father, Augustine, died when he was eleven years old, ending any hopes of higher education.

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Instead, Washington spent many of his formative years under the tutelage of Lawrence, his favorite older brother Lindsay M. She received her B. Before the Civil War, many US presidents, including Washington, owned enslaved people, and all of them had to deal with slavery as a political issue. Read about recent findings from ongoing research.

Because he could be trusted with power, he made the presidency possible. In one of the most famous addresses in American history, Washington declines to seek a third term as President, and he thanks the American people for entrusting him with the position. On the other hand, his two small victories at Trenton, New Jersey and Princeton, New Jersey were crucial in both mending Washington's reputation as a war general and in boosting morale among the rebel colonial forces and civilians.

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After several other key victories with the aid of the colonies' foreign ally France, the British ended the Revolutionary War and relinquished their control of the American colonies with the signing of the Treaty of Paris at Yorktown, Virginia on September 3, Following the conclusion of the American War for Independence, George Washington initially refused to become the national leader and instead returned again to civilian life in order to tend to his suffering estate.

However, Washington did shortly accept the invitation to run for the office of the first President of the United States of America. At the age of fifty-seven, he became the only U. President to receive every vote from the Electoral College. George Washington served two terms as President, afterwards retiring for one last time to his home at Mount Vernon.

The United State's first President, icon, and national hero died in his home on December 14, George Washington Biography.