If you have ever seen a 1$ bill, then you know what George Washington looked like, for it is his face the one printed in the arguably most famous bill in the world. One of the founding fathers, George Washington is alongside Abraham Lincoln, JFK and a few others, one of the most popular American presidents in the history of the United States. As a matter of fact, he was the very first elected president in the democratic history of the country and served in office for two consecutive terms of 4 years each, from 1789 to 1797. But let us go back to the very beginning.

Washington was born in 1732, into a wealthy family in Virginia near Fredericksburg. In his earlier years, he received his schooling education until the age of 15, and two years later when he was 17, thanks to a family connection by marriage through his half brother Lawrence to the wealthy Fairfax family, he was appointed surveyor of the Culpeper County. During the following years, his family took on several land and property investments in the Ohio area, sometimes alongside other investors, which allowed them to get even more relevant social connections.

Several years later, in 1752, long before becoming president, Washington joined the colonial militia and one year later in 1753, Robbert Dinwiddie who was Virginia´s Royal Governor at the time and a co-investor with his family´s affairs, appointed him as a major in the colonial militia. Washington, who fought on the British side, played a key role in the outbreak of the French and Indian war, also known as the Seven Years War, and then led the defense of Virginia between 1755 and 1758 as colonel of the Virginia Regiment.

Throughout this campaign he gained valuable military, political, and leadership skills, which granted him significant public exposure in the colonies as well as abroad. Being the large man that he was, about 6 ft tall (1,80 m), his presence alone commanded respect from his peers, but it was in battle where he demonstrated his toughness and courage in the most difficult situations. He developed such a commanding presence that he appeared to be a natural born leader among the soldiers who followed him without question. However, he was denied a well deserved promotion by the British and this plus his negative opinion on the militia itself, whom he considered undisciplined and unreliable, lead to his resignation from the colonial militia in December of 1758.

Washington spent the following 16 years as a wealthy Virginia plantation owner while his dislike for the British policies grew bigger and bigger, specially after the 1765 Stamp act, which was the first direct tax to the colonies and its producers. The abusive taxation carried out by the British in the following years, was considered by Washington and many others, as an invation of the rights and priviledges of the American colonies, and in July 1774, he took part in the meeting where among other things, the need for the formation of a Continental Congress was agreed. A month after that, Washington was selected as a delegate for the First Continental Congress and as tensions with the British rose, he assisted with the training of the continental militia and the enforcement of the boycott to British goods.

Tensions with the British kept rising higher and higher, and in 1775 the war for independence began. By then, Washington had become commander of all colonial forces which he led into battle until victory was achieved in 1783 when the Revolutionary War ended. Four years after the end of the war, in 1787, he presided at the Constitutional Convention which established the U.S. Constitution and the federal government. Washington played a key role in adopting and ratifying the American Constitution and two years later, he was elected president by the Electoral College, thus becoming the first elected Amercian president in history.

George Washington´s innauguration ceremony took place on April 30th 1789 at the Federal Hall in New York City, where he took the oath of office. This historical event was attended by a crowd of no less than 10,000 people, which at the time was a really significant amount. In the inaugural parade, his coach was led by some militia and a marching band and was followed by statesmen and foreign dignitaries. During the ceremony, Washington read a speech in which, as the religious man that he was, he asked God to bless the United States and its people, by saying:

“Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States.»

As president, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining impartial in any political rivalries between the two factions of congress. He stressed that national identity was paramount, while a united America would safeguard freedom and prosperity.

About being the first elected American president, he was very well aware of the importance of establishing honorable precedents, and he devoutly wished to fix those precedents on true principles. To that end, he preferred the title «Mr. President» over more majestic names proposed by the Senate, including «His Excellency» and «His Highness the President».

Washington was elected for two consecutive terms in office of four years each, and in 1797, he declined to run for a third term, believing his death in office would create an image of a lifetime appointment. As a matter of fact, the precedent of a two-term limit was created by his retirement from office and it is still standing to this day.

He passed away on December 18th, 1799, due to a throat infection which he couldn´t overcome. People worldwide admired Washington and were saddened by his death. Memorial processions were held in major cities throughout the United States and upon his death, his eulogy read «first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen».

George Washington has been memorialized by numerous monuments, art, currency and geographical locations, the most relevant one being the country´s capital Washington D.C. which was named after him. But more importantly, he has been ranked by many schollars and polls as one of the greatest U.S. presidents of all time.

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