Who was the 1st President of the United States?

He is perhaps one of the most famous men in American history. His picture appears on the one dollar bill and the quarter. The capital of the United States of America is named after him.

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He was born in colonial Virginia on February 22, 1732. He dedicated most of his life to public service, including serving in the French and Indian War and later as the leader of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. On December 14, 1799 he died at his home, called Mount Vernon. Have you guessed who it is?

That’s right George Washington!

 

George Washington is such a fascinating man to study and I could talk about him for a long time but instead I will just share a couple of my favorite stories with you.

 

Long before he was famous, he showed remarkable leadership skills. At the age of twenty-one he was selected by the governor of Virginia to take an important message to the French who had set up a fort on English land. The French were very cordial but refused to leave. Courageously, Washington made a dangerous journey back to Virginia. He faced the bitter cold of winter, a treacherous attack from an Indian guide, and dangerous river crossing in which he nearly drowned. When he finally returned to the governor, he had been gone for eleven weeks and had traveled eleven hundred miles.

Another of my favorite stories of Washington was just after the American Revolution was over. Here is the story from my book Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History: “Some of the American soldiers were upset that they had not been paid for fighting against the English, and several times they rebelled.

Once they tried to make Washington the king of a new nation. Most men would have taken over the country, but Washington was a humble man. In March of 1783, several of the officers were becoming unruly. Washington gathered them together and began reading a prepared speech to them. He reminded them to stay loyal to their cause. At one point, he stopped and pulled out some glasses as he apologized to the men saying, “Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind.” His selfless nature won the day. How could the soldiers turn on a man who had given everything and asked nothing in return.”

I could tell you about his miraculous escape during Braddock’s defeat, the crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776, about the praying Washington, his determination at Valley Forge, his love of God, country, and family but I’ll stop here. These stories are include in my Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History and Uncover Exciting History.

Pilgrim on a journey,
Amy Puetz Fox

To learn more about the George Washington check out these books by Amy Puetz Fox.