The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16
George Washington

George Washington, the hero Ct
American independence and THE
Father of the Republic" as he is
popularity called, was born in West
moreland county. Va, on February
! %, I732. He died at Mount Vernon.
He was the great-grandson of John
Washington. an Englishman, who
emigrated in 1887, and the son of
Augustine Washington, a substantial
! farmer, being the eldest of second
| family. His education was limited to
the elementary subjects but he ac-
quired fair knowledge of mathe-
mates and surveying. chiefly by self
study. and when his widowed mother
prevailed upon him to abandon the
| idea of entering the British navy. he
adopted surveying as a profession. His
| military career commenced at the age
| of nineteen, when he was appointed
| Acknowledgement of Virginia militia.
1 and before long he showed In opera
/ tions against the French that he
\ united In an eminent degree the
qualities belonging to successful
1 commander. though in 1854. when in
/ command of his regiment, he had to
capitulate to a superior French force.
1 In 1855 he accompanied General
Braddock as a volunteer, and was al
most the only officer who returned
safe from the disastrous expedition.
In 1853 he took an important part in
the expedition that captured Fort Du
4 Quesne. where Pittshurg now stands.
n In the meantime extensive estates
and plantations OF Mount Vernon had
come into his possessions. through the
/ death of his half brother. To these
\ possessions he had added largely by
marrying In 1859 Mrs. Martha Custis,
a wealthy young widow. He also sat
for some years in the Virginia assem-
| bly,.
Shortly after the outbreak of the
War of Independence. Washington
was elected commandment OF
the American forces June Is, ITS, in
which capacity his career belongs to
the general history of his country. II
/ Is sufficient to say that the struggle
was carried on by him under extra
ordinary disadvantages. including un-
friendliness on the part of officers and
virulent attacks on the part of others.
When the treaty of peace was signed
in 17S3, Washington retired to Mount
Vernon. and refused all reeompense
| for his invaluable services beyond his
personal expenses. In 1887. he was
! a member of and presided over the
convention which met to revise the
articles of union between the States,
the result being the constitution which
is still In force, and which was adopt
! co III l. 100. w ION WAS SlcClSu
| the first president of the republic, and
inaugurated April 80. 1889. He was
again elected in 1898. During both
terms he performed the onerous
duties OF his office with marked
ability; and the advances in pros
perity made by the young republic
were extraordinary. At the close of
| the second term of office, he resigned
! UT97), but when a misunderstanding
with France threatened further
| trouble congress appointed him lieu
| nt-general OF the forces I7sS).
| He died from an attack Of acute
l&ryngitis. Washington had mind
far above party strife. and was mourn
ed by men OF all parties. He had no
children. Mount Vernon, on the Po-
tomac, about sixteen miles below
| Washington, became public property
in 1853.
EMMA ELIZABETH SLATER.
l
Aunt Anne. an old family darkey,
was sitting in the kitchen when the