Feb. 22, 1732 ~ Dec. 14, 1799
Religion: Episcopalian
Marriage: Martha Dandridge Custis
Military service: Served in the Virginia militia
1752-1754, 1755-1758; commander in chief
of the Continental Army 1775-1783
Term: April 30, 1789 -- March 3, 1797
Vice president: John Adams
Highlights of presidency:
He signed the Proclamation of Neutrality
in 1793 declaring the United States friendly
and impartial toward the European nations
at war. Washington ordered 15,000 militia to
put down the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. He
denied Congress access to executive branch
records involving the Jay Treaty of 1795.
Did you know?
Washington's dentures were made of human,
animal and ivory bases -- not made of wood
-- and were held in his mouth with metal
springs. He was the only president who was
elected unanimously by the Electoral College.
His last name comes from his ancestral town
in England, known in 1183 as Wessyngton,
but five generations later, when he became
president, it had become Hertburn.
