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George Washington: Founding Father Of The United States

Posted On September 23rd, 2024 By Celebrity Biographies

Early Life and Family Background

George Washington Biography

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to a family of moderate wealth. His father, Augustine Washington, was a planter and a justice of the peace, while his mother, Mary Ball Washington, managed the household. George grew up on several plantations owned by his family and was the eldest of six children. Though his family wasn’t extremely wealthy, they were part of the Virginia gentry, which gave George opportunities to mix with the influential people of his time.

Washington had limited formal schooling compared to other prominent figures of his era. His formal education ended around the age of 15, after which he learned much of what he knew through self-study and practical experience. He excelled in mathematics and surveying, skills that would later serve him well in his early career. Much of Washington’s understanding of leadership and politics was shaped by his life experiences rather than academic training.

Early Career: From Surveyor to Soldier

At the age of 17, Washington began his career as a surveyor. He secured a job with the Fairfax family, powerful Virginia landowners. His surveying work gave him a solid income and allowed him to explore vast areas of Virginia’s frontier, which sparked his interest in land ownership and expansion—this period of his life built his knowledge of the terrain and land, which would later prove invaluable in his military campaigns.

Washington’s military career started in 1752 when he was appointed as a major in the Virginia militia. His first significant experience came during the French and Indian War (1754–1763), where he played a key role in several battles. One of his early assignments was to deliver a message to the French, asking them to vacate the Ohio Valley. This mission marked his entry into colonial military service, where he began to establish his reputation as a capable leader.

During the war, Washington experienced both success and failure, including the ill-fated Battle of Fort Necessity in 1754, where he was forced to surrender. Despite the setbacks, his bravery and perseverance earned him respect. By the end of the war, Washington had gained valuable leadership experience and emerged as one of Virginia’s most prominent military figures.

Marriage and Plantation Life

In 1759, Washington married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow with two children. This marriage not only brought him personal happiness but also significantly increased his wealth and landholdings, as Martha owned large estates. Washington became the stepfather to Martha’s children, Jacky and Patsy, and developed a strong bond with them. Though George and Martha never had children of their own, Washington was deeply involved in the lives of his stepchildren.

After his marriage, Washington took over the management of Mount Vernon, a large plantation that would become his lifelong home. Under his management, Mount Vernon grew into one of the most successful plantations in Virginia. Washington was an innovative farmer, experimenting with crops and techniques. However, like many planters of the time, he relied on the labor of enslaved people, something that would later become a source of personal conflict for him.

The Road to Revolution

In the 1760s and early 1770s, tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain began to rise. Acts like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts imposed by the British government angered the colonists, who believed they were being unfairly taxed without representation in Parliament. Washington, like many others, was frustrated by these measures and began to support the cause for colonial rights.

Washington’s involvement in the political arena grew during this period. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he opposed British policies and became a vocal critic of taxation without representation. His leadership and patriotism earned him the trust of his fellow colonists, and in 1774, he was chosen as one of Virginia’s delegates to the First Continental Congress. This meeting was a significant step toward independence, as it brought together leaders from all the colonies to discuss their grievances with Britain.

Commander of the Continental Army

In 1775, the Continental Congress appointed George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. His selection was strategic—he was from Virginia, the largest and most influential colony, and he had military experience. Washington accepted the position with humility, knowing the immense challenges ahead.

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was a grueling conflict, and Washington faced numerous hardships, including poorly trained troops, lack of supplies, and harsh conditions. Despite these difficulties, Washington’s leadership was key to the colonies’ eventual victory. He was known for his ability to inspire his troops, even during tough times such as the harsh winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778).

Washington’s strategic brilliance was evident in battles such as the crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, which led to a crucial victory at the Battle of Trenton. His perseverance throughout the war culminated in the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending the war and securing American independence.

First President of the United States

After the war, Washington retired to Mount Vernon, hoping to live a quiet life. However, the young nation was struggling under the Articles of Confederation, and in 1787, Washington was called upon to preside over the Constitutional Convention. His presence lent legitimacy to the proceedings, and he was instrumental in the drafting of the United States Constitution.

In 1789, George Washington was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States. He took office on April 30, 1789, in New York City, the nation’s capital at the time. Washington set many important precedents during his presidency, including the establishment of a cabinet of advisors and the tradition of serving only two terms in office.

As president, Washington focused on unifying the young nation and setting a foundation for its future. His policies promoted national unity, neutrality in foreign conflicts, and the establishment of a strong federal government. He faced numerous challenges, including conflicts between political factions led by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, which tested the authority of the federal government.

Washington’s Farewell Address in 1796 emphasized the importance of national unity and warned against entangling alliances and political parties, which he feared could divide the nation.

Final Years and Legacy

After serving two terms, Washington retired to Mount Vernon in 1797. He remained active in public life, offering advice to his successors, but largely focused on his estate.

Washington owned slaves throughout most of his life, and it’s important to address this aspect of his legacy. He gradually became uncomfortable with slavery and in his will, freed all of his slaves upon his wife Martha’s death, a significant gesture for the time.

On December 14, 1799, Washington died at Mount Vernon due to a severe throat infection. His death was a profound loss for the young nation, and he was mourned as a national hero.

George Washington’s legacy as the “Father of His Country” is unmatched. He played a vital role in securing American independence, shaping the new government, and setting the precedent for future leaders. Washington’s commitment to republicanism, his refusal to seek absolute power, and his leadership in both war and peace have cemented his place as one of the most important figures in American history.

George Washington’s life was defined by his dedication to his country, his leadership, and his ability to rise to the challenges of his time. From his humble beginnings to his role as the first president, Washington left a lasting impact on the United States and remains a symbol of integrity, honor, and patriotism.


Abraham Lincoln Biography

Posted On August 9th, 2011 By Celebrity Biographies

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of United States and also headed the country during the Civil War. He shall always be remembered for his efforts to abolish slavery and for his ability to rule a divided nation. The Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and two other inaugural addresses made by Lincoln are considered to be the best speeches to be delivered by any American Leader.

Early Life

Abraham Lincoln was born on 12th February, 1809 to Nancy and Thomas Lincoln. The family lived in Hardin County, Kentucky in a small log cabin of a farm. After two years, they moved into a farm of Knob Creek. Lincoln went to a school which was located two miles away from this farm and this is where he learnt the basics of writing, reading and mathematics.

In 1818, Abraham Lincoln lost his mother to a terrible disease called the “milk sickness”. The family started falling apart after the death of Nancy Lincoln and hence Abraham as well as his sister had to share much of the workload. His father later got married to Sarah Bush Johnson, who moved into the family with her three children. The family moved on to several places for better opportunities, however once Abraham grew up, he moved to New Salem and was later in charge of a store and a mill.

Public Life

While working at the mill, he soon grew popular amongst the masses and people came to him to enjoy his stories. Abraham soon became popular for his  little speeches and he was welcomed by the New Salem Debating Society. During the Black Hawk War, between hostile Native Americans and United States, Lincoln was elected as the captain of the region by the volunteers.

Lincoln announced himself as the candidate for the Illinois Legislature, soon after the war. Although he lost the election, he received about 277 votes out of 300, in the precinct of New Salem. He made another attempt in 1834 and was then elected at the Legislature. Most politicians during that time were impressed by the campaign skills used by Lincoln. He served four years in the Legislature and then became the party leader. After reading several law books, he started practicing law by September 1836. He was married to Mary Todd on 2nd November, 1842.

The 16th President

The Republican National Convention, in 1960, chose Abraham Lincoln as their candidate to fight presidency elections. With a recent formation of the Democratic party and the Constitutional Union Party, it was certain that Lincoln was to participate in the election. After Lincoln was elected, several parts of the country reacted harshly on the president’s stand on slavery. His tenure as a President was faced with early failures and he had to withstand the occurrence of the Civil War. Lincoln was elected again in 1864 and after the Confederate Army ended the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln while he was addressing the crowd in Ford Theatre in Washington. Abraham Lincoln died on 15th April, 1965, the day after he was shot. Although the reasons behind his assassination are still unknown, he has managed to build a prominent place for himself in American history.


Barack Obama Biography

Posted On November 30th, 2009 By Celebrity Biographies

Barack Hussein Obama

Barack Hussein Obama

Barack Obama was born as ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ on August 4, 1961. He is currently serving as the 44th president of United States. He is the first president to be born in Hawaii, including being the first from the African-American origin. His father Barack Obama, Sr. belonged to the Luo ethnicity of Kenya and his mother, Stanley Ann Durham belonged to Wichita, Kansas. Barack was commonly called ‘Barry’ throughout his childhood and ‘Hussein’ is the middle name since his father adopted Islam, but they were originally Christians.

Early Life

His parents met each other during college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father studied as a foreign student. His parents separated when Barack Obama was two years old and later divorced in 1964. His mother then brought him to stay with her at her parent’s house in Manoa district. In the meantime, his father graduated with a ‘Masters in Economics’ degree from the Harvard University and went back to Kenya. Barack has five half brothers and two half-sisters from his father’s other marriage. His father later became the ‘finance minister’ of Kenya and died in the year 1982 out of a car accident. Obama met his father only once before his death in 1971. On the other hand, Obama’s mother got married to another Indonesian student from the Hawaii University called Lolo Soetoro. His mother then took him to Jakarta, Indonesia along with his step-father in the year 1967.

Education

During his stay in Indonesia he attended all local Indonesian schools and soon after, he moved with his grandparents in Honolulu, Hawaii. Obama has admitted that he had a struggling childhood trying to find out answers about his multi racial and multicultural heritage. He used to find it complex to recognize such enormous differences between the skin colours of his father and his mother. He has also admitted of using marijuana, cocaine and alcohol during his teenage years.

Barack moved to Los Angeles after high school and studied for two years at the Occidental College. He then moved on to the Columbia College in New York where he majored in Political Science in 1983 along with a speciality in International relations. After spending four years in New York, Obama moved to Chicago and started working at the Business International Corporation with the NYPIRG (New York Public Interest Research Group). He also worked as a Community organizer for a church based community organization called the ‘Developing Communities Project’. He worked as a director of this organisation for four years from 1985 to 1988. This is exactly where he got his organisational skills from and later travelled to Europe and Kenya for the first time.

The Law

He entered Harvard Law School in late 1988 because he felt that law was a medium that could facilitate community organization and activism. In 1990, which is his second year at college, he was chosen to be the editor of the Law Review. He worked as a training associate at ‘Sidley and Austin’ law firm while still in law school in 1989. This is where he met his wife Michelle Robinson, who was also a lawyer in that firm. He later worked at ‘Hopkins and Sutter’ in the year 1990 and then graduated from Harvard in 1991. He moved back to Illinois, Chicago and worked a civil rights lawyer. He was offered to write a book on racial relations by the University of Chicago and was also offered a fellowship from the university. Obama got married in the year 1992 and his mother Ann died of ovarian and uterine cancer in 1994. The book was published in the year 1995 with a name ‘Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance’ and ended up winning the Grammy for the audio version of this book. He occasionally taught Constitutional Law at the university and was a lecturer from 1992 to 1996; however he was a senior lecturer at the university until 2004. He was also on the board of directors for several organisations such as ‘Chicago Lawyer’s Committee’, ‘Chicago Annenberg Challenge’, ‘Woods Fund of Chicago’, ‘Lugenia Burns Hope Centre’ and ‘The Centre of Neighbourhood Technology’.

Personal Life

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama had their first daughter in 1998 named ‘Malia Ann’ and second daughter ‘Sasha’ in 2001. He published his second book called the ‘Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream’ in October 2006 and also won the Grammy for the audio version of this book. He is a talented writer and a dedicated basketball player. He is a major supporter of Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox. Although he was raised in Islamic faith, Obama is an atheist by choice and his current family follows Christianity.

The Journey

He had organized largest voter registration drives in the 1992 election under the ‘Project Vote’. His work in this project led him to run for the Illinois State Senate and he was finally elected in November, 1996. With the U.S. senator Paul Simon, Obama passed the toughest campaign finance law in 1998. From the year 1997 to 2004, he went on to serve three terms in the Illinois State Senate. He lost to Bobby Rush in the year 2000, which was a primary run for U.S. House of Representatives. , he passed legislation to expand healthcare in the year 2003 to cover 70,000 children and extended health insurance to uninsured parents. Barack Obama created Illinois Earned Income tax credit that offered tax relief and also worked on several other legislation.

He came into national limelight on July 2004, with a motivational speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he openly condemned the administration policies of Bush on the Iraq War. His vocational skills are often compared to that of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther. He started thinking about running for U.S. Senate by middle of 2002 and later announced his candidacy in the year 2003. He won the election on 2nd November, 2004 and finally made it to the US Senate. He became the fifth African American senator in the history of United States and resigned from the Illinois State Senate. Obama held minority appointments till 2006 and took major assignments in 2007. He personally visited Iraq to witness the war and introduced a legislation to end the war in 2007. He sponsored a total of 136 bills in the Senate, out of which two of them have been officially announced as laws in the US Government.

Barack Obama declared his candidacy for the ‘Democratic Presidential’ nomination in February 2007 and out of all the candidates that had filed their nominations, the only two left were Barack Obama and Senator Hilary Clinton. Obama became the presumptive nominee on the 3rd of June 2008. Obama accepted the nomination in August 2008 against the republican nominee, John McCain. Thousands of supporters witnessed the historic win on November 4th, 2008.


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