Wikijunior:Famous Americans/George Washington

George Washington (1732-1799) was America’s first President. Before becoming President, he was a soldier, serving as a colonel in the French and Indian War and as the leader of the Continental Army during the American Revolution against England. He was also head of the Constitutional Convention, when the United States wrote the basic laws that govern our country. He is called the “Father of Our Country” because without him, many believe that the United States would not have existed, at least as we know it.

What did he do when he was young?
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, near what is now Colonial Beach, Virginia. As a child, some people thought he chopped down a cherry tree, though this is probably not true. Washington's family owned a lot of land in Virginia. Washington was raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Washington did not receive a formal education. In 1747, he became a surveyor, someone who measures lands.

Farmer
By his 20s, Washington was one of the largest landowners in Virginia. By the time of the Presidency, Washington was the largest landowner in America.

Constitutional Convention
Washington was President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.