George Washington

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21972

Title

George Washington

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This book is a biography of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Written by Calista McCabe Courtenay in 1917, it provides an account of his life from childhood to his presidency and beyond.

Summary up to 500 words

George Washington's life is chronicled in this book from his birth in 1732 to his death in 1799. The author explores his early years as a surveyor and military officer, his role in the French and Indian War, and his leadership during the American Revolution. Washington's presidency is also discussed, including his decision to retire after two terms and his later life at Mount Vernon. Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he spent most of his childhood. He was educated in country schools and showed a practical mind, caring little for poetry and literature. At the age of 16, he was appointed public surveyor of his county and worked on vast tracts of land owned by Lord Fairfax. In 1753, Washington was chosen to travel to the Ohio River with a message to the French commandant, Saint Pierre. He was accompanied by Christopher Gist, an Indian chief called Half King, and interpreters. The journey was difficult, but Washington proved himself brave and strong enough for the task. During the American Revolution, Washington's forces were too weak to fight regular battles with the British. He used every device to make General Howe think he had a strong army, while trying to convince Congress that he could not act for want of men and supplies. The British kept him guessing about what they would do next. In 1777, Washington's forces were defeated at the Battle of Brandywine, but he rallied his troops and led them to victory at the Battle of Germantown. He also sent his valued Virginia riflemen to help fight Burgoyne's Indians. The year 1789 saw Washington elected as the first President of the United States. He took office on April 30th and served two terms, establishing many important precedents for future presidents. He issued a proclamation ordering all who were loyal to the King to go to the British camp and all others to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Washington's Farewell Address was sent to Congress in 1797, where he expressed his desire to retire from public life. He died on December 14th, 1799, at Mount Vernon, surrounded by his family and friends. His legacy as a great leader and statesman has endured for centuries.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21972.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21972.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 13:21 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• History
• Politics