Timeline of George Washington

George Washington, the first President of the United States, was respected in society for his devotion to duty and his nation. According to Henry Lee, he was first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Look at the chronology of all the important events in his life.

• 1732: George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington in Virginia.
• 1748: He started his career as a planter. He helped in surveying Baron Fairfax's lands. In 1749, he was the official surveyor of Culpeper County.

• 1754: He was appointed lieutenant colonel and he led the expedition to Fort Duquesne. In this mission of driving out the French, he had to surrender.

• 1755: Washington assisted British General Edward Braddock on the Monongahela expedition in an effort to capture Ohio Country. The expedition was unsuccessful but it was marked by the demonstration of Washington's valor. As a result, he was promoted to the position of colonel and was the commander of all the Virginia Forces.

• 1759: George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis on January 6. They moved to Mount Vernon.
• 1775: Congress created the Continental Army on June 14 and appointed Washington as Major General on the very next day. He was also elected for the post of Commander-in-chief.

• 1776: In August, British General William Howe launched an attack to capture New York. The Continental Army fought under the leadership of Washington. But the British emerged victorious in this and subsequent other attacks.

• 1783: Washington resigned from the post of Commander-in-chief on December 23.
• 1787: During summer, in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, he was elected as the President of the Convention.

• 1789: The Electoral College elected George Washington. He is the only President to have received 100% votes! On April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office as the first President of the United States of America. He strove to create a nation that could survive wars.

He was in favor of building a central government and strongly supported the implementation of an effective tax system. He never wanted position or power. He was not greedy for the handsome salary that came with it. He wanted to serve his country in a selfless manner. He was an able administrator and an excellent leader.

• 1793: His Proclamation of Neutrality laid the foundation of the state policy to stay away from any involvement in foreign conflicts.
  
• 1795: By signing the Jay treaty with Britain, Washington made way for peace. 
• 1797: In March, he retired from the presidency.

• 1798: President John Adams appointed Washington as the Lieutenant General and Commander-in-chief of all armies on July 13. He was also the senior officer of the United States Army till December 14, 1799.
• 1799: On the evening of December 14, 1799, George Washington died of acute laryngitis and pneumonia at the age of 67.

He is commemorated on the one-dollar bill and the quarter-dollar coin. He is one of the Presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore. Several monuments across the United States and the nation's capital itself have been named in his honor. His life was an example of selfless service and his death meant the loss of a great human being.