Milestones

1732		Born in Bridges Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22.
1754–58		Serves as lieutenant colonel in French and Indian Wars.
1759		Marries Martha Dandridge Custis. Elected to House of Burgesses; will serve as a burgess until 1775.
1761		Inherits Mount Vernon estate.
1774		Chosen delegate to First Continental Congress.
1775		Elected commander in chief of Continental Army at Second Continental Congress.
1781		Defeats British troops at Yorktown.
1783		Retires to Mount Vernon.
1787		Elected president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
1789		Unanimously elected president of the United States. Appoints heads of executive departments of state, treasury, war; sets up executive branch of government.
1791		Signs bill chartering the Bank of the United States. Selects site for new capital city on the Potomac River.
1792		Unanimously reelected to a second presidential term. Tries to mediate feud between Jefferson and Hamilton.
1793		Proclaims American neutrality after France declares war on Great Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands.
1794		Leads troops to put down Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania.
1795		Signs Jay’s Treaty, a commercial treaty with Great Britain. Signs the Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain, giving Americans access to the Mississippi River.
1796		Publishes his Farewell Address.
1798		Leaves retirement to accept post as commander in chief of army.
1799		Dies December 14. Leaves instructions to free his slaves upon his death, or upon Martha’s death, should she outlive him.