One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, then was inaugurated as the first U.S. President on April 30, 1789.
His older half-brother, Lawrence, used personal connections with the Fairfax family to have him appointed official surveyor for Culpeper County, a prestigious position.
His legacy as a commander at Valley Forge, Yorktown, and Boston was honored in 1917 when an asteroid was named after him: the 886 Washingtonia asteroid.
He married widow Martha Dandridge Custis in January 1759, despite letters that would come to light showing he was in love with Sally Fairfax, a friend's wife.
He turned down the opportunity to run for a third term as President. He oversaw a smooth transition in which his vice President, John Adams, was elected to office.
