George Washington Facts for Kids

A Picture of George Washington
  • Name: George Washington
  • Profession: Statesman, Military General, Political Leader
  • Born: February 22nd, 1732 in Popes Creek, Virginia, British America
  • Died: December 14th, 1799 in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA
  • Resting Place: Tomb at the Mount Vernon estate, Virginia, USA
  • Legacy: Famous general, founding father of the USA and the first U.S. President

23 George Washington Facts for Kids

  1. George Washington was a statesman (Virginia provincial legislature), American political leader (first U.S. President), military general (American Revolutionary War) and a founding father of the United States of America.
  2. George Washing is most famous for being the first president of the United States and helping lead the American colonies to victory during the American Revolutionary War.
  3. George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732 in Popes Creek, Virginia, which at the time was British America.
  4. George Washington was the son of Augustine Washington and Mary B. Washington.
  5. George Washington married widow Martha Dandridge on January 6th, 1759.
  6. George and Martha never had any biological children. However, George Washington was a stepfather to John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis. John and Martha were the two surviving child from Martha’s first marriage with the deceased Daniel Parke Custis.
  7. George Washington died at the age of 67 on December 14th, 1779 in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA.
  8. Prior to the American Revolutionary War, George Washington was a major in the Virginia militia and a commander of one of the four militia districts in Virginia.
  9. In 1785, George Washington was elected to Virginia provincial legislature. While in the Virginia provincial legislature George Washington represented Frederick County for seven years.
  10. George Washington was appointed the commander in chief of the Continental Army on June 22nd, 1775.
  11. The first battle for George Washington as the commander in chief of the Continental Army was the Siege of Boston. The forces commanded by George Washington were successful at pushing out the British forces from Boston.
  12. George Washington lost over 2,000 troops while spending the winter in Valley Forge in December 1777. Most of the deaths were a result from the winter conditions and lack of food.
  13. George Washington won a decisive battle known as the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. The Continental Army, French Army and French Navy forced Cornwallis to surrender and paved the way for American Independence.
  14. George Washington was the first elected President of the United States of America.
  15. George Washington served the President of the United States for eight years between 1789 and 1797.
  16. George Washington choose to not run for a third term as President. He believed that if he died while in office it would create the illusion of the presidency being a lifetime appointment.
  17. The only United States president to hold office for more than eight years was Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was elected to four full terms but died during less than three months into his fourth term.
  18. The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution was created to limit United States presidents to two terms. They selected a two term limit based on George Washington’s tradition of only two terms.
  19. George Washington was one of the 39 delegates who signed the original United States Constitution.
  20. The United States Navy was created in 1794 by George Washington with the Naval Act of 1794.
  21. George Washington gave the shortest presidential inaugural address in U.S. history. During his second inauguration on March 4th, 1793 he gave as speech that only contain 135 words and lasted less than two minutes.
  22. The Washington Monument was built to commemorate George Washington, his life and what he did to help create the United States of America. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
  23. George Washington was a slave owner. However, over the course of the American Revolutionary War and his time in office his views on slavery changed. His will dictated that all his slaves were to be freed upon his and his wife’s death. His estate was also required by law to take care of his former slaves.

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