February 22nd marks the 287th birth anniversary of the first President and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, George Washington.
He served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and was the only president in the history of the United States to receive 100% of the electoral votes twice.
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On his 287th birth anniversary here are some facts about him-
- Washington is the only slave-owning president who freed all of his slaves. George Washington inherited his first slaves when he was 11 years old. Washington’s attitude toward slavery gradually changed as he grew older and especially as he fought for liberty in the American Revolution.
- He was the first to sign the U.S. Constitution. As President of the Constitutional Convention held in Virginia in 1787, Washington helped draft The United States Constitution and was offered the opportunity to be the first to sign it.
- President Washington never lived in Washington, D.C. George Washington is the only US president to have never occupied the White House. The Washingtons occupied a series of grand houses in New York and then later in Philadelphia.
- Before becoming the Father of the Nation, he was a master surveyor. Starting at an age of 16, Washington spent the early part of his career as a professional surveyor completing over 200 land surveys.
- Before fighting the British, he fought for the British. At the age of 21, Washington was sent to lead a British colonial force against the French in Ohio. He lost, and this helped spark the Seven Years War in North America.
- He is the only President to actually go into battle while serving as President.
- There is 1 state, 7 mountains, 8 streams, 10 lakes, 33 counties, 9 colleges, and 121 towns and villages named after George Washington, including the capital city of the United States.
He died on December 14, 1799, in Mount Vernon, Virginia.