George Washington was born in Virginia in 1732.

George was born on February 22, 1732, to Mary Ball and Augustine Washington on his family's estate in Pope's Creek, Virginia, near the Potomac River. The family moved to what is now Mount Vernon when he was 3 years old, but Washington spent much of his boyhood at a farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Washington's father was a tobacco planter who died when George was only 11 years old. Lawrence, his half-brother from Augustine's first marriage, became his role model and surrogate father. The family's connections to the Fairfax family enabled George to be appointed surveyor for Culpeper County and to earn sufficient salary to purchase land of his own. When Lawrence died in 1752, George was appointed as district adjutant, one of four offices formerly under his brother's control. 

EDSITEment
In George Washington: The Living Symbol (9-12), students examine the life and legend of our first President through his writings and the commemorations of others.

Lesson 1 in a series about George Washington considers: What Are the Qualities of a Good Military Leader?(9-12). Students review Washington's military record to determine what combination of experience, strategy, and personal characteristics enabled him to succeed as a military leader.

Smithsonian's History Explorer
In General George Washington, Military Leader (2-6), students examine artifacts and writings from Washington's military service to determine the qualities of leadership he showed as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

In the interactive exhibit A Letter From George Washington (K-12), students study a letter from Washington to Dr. David Stuart to learn about Washington's role in shaping our nation in the period following the American Revolution.