Washington, George (the Father of the United States)

US general and politician

led Virginia militia in French and Indian War 1754, 1755-1758

member of House of Burgesses 1759-1774

Virginia delegate to Continental Congress 1774-1775

commander-in-chief of Continental army during American Revolution 1775-1783

forced British troops to evacuate Boston 1776

after crossing Delaware River 1776, defeated Hessians under Johann Rall at battle of Trenton 1776

defeated British troops of Charles Cornwallis at battle of Princeton 1777, solidifying American control over New Jersey

defeated by British troops under William Howe at battle of Brandywine 1777 and battle of Germantown 1777, losing American control over Pennsylvania

settled troops for winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 1777-1778

defeated British troops of Charles Cornwallis at battle of Yorktown 1781, causing Cornwallis' surrender, British capitulation, and end of American Revolution

president of Constitutional Convention 1787

1st president of US 1789-1797 (only unanimously elected US president)

established 1st presidential cabinet 1789

moved US capital from New York City to Philadelphia 1790

oversaw establishment of Bank of US 1791 and US Mint at Philadelphia 1792

declared US impartiality in European War of the First Coalition 1793

ordered suppression of Whiskey Rebellion 1794

issued Farewell Address 1796, warning against partisanship and entangling foreign alliances