George Washington Timeline of Events

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George Washington

George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787...

Timeline of Events

1754

5.28.1754

French and Indian War: in the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under 22-year-old Lieutenant Colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania.

7.3.1754

French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces.

7.4.1754

French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers.

1759

1.5.1759

George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis.

1775

6.15.1775

American Revolutionary War: George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

7.3.1775

American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1776

3.17.1776

American Revolution: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington and Henry Knox place artillery in positions overlooking the city.

6.28.1776

American Revolutionary War: Thomas Hickey, Continental Army private and bodyguard to General George Washington, is hanged for mutiny and sedition.

8.27.1776

The Battle of Long Island: in what is now Brooklyn, New York, British forces under General William Howe defeat Americans under General George Washington.

12.25.1776

George Washington and his army cross the Delaware River to attack the Kingdom of Great Britain's Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey.

1777

1.2.1777

American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey

1.3.1777

American general George Washington defeats British general Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton.

10.4.1777

Battle of Germantown: Troops under George Washington are repelled by British troops under Sir William Howe.

12.19.1777

American Revolutionary War: George Washington's Continental Army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

1781

10.16.1781

George Washington captures Yorktown, Virginia after the Siege of Yorktown.

10.19.1781

At Yorktown, Virginia, representatives of British commander Lord Cornwallis handed over Cornwallis' sword and formally surrendered to George Washington and the comte de Rochambeau.

1782

8.7.1782

George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle. It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.

1783

3.15.1783

In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy. The plea is successful and the threatened coup d'état never takes place.

11.2.1783

In Rocky Hill, New Jersey, US General George Washington gives his "Farewell Address to the Army".

12.4.1783

At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, US General George Washington formally bids his officers farewell.

12.23.1783

George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.

1787

5.25.1787

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates convene a Constitutional Convention to write a new Constitution for the United States; George Washington presides.

1789

2.4.1789

George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.

4.30.1789

On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.

10.2.1789

George Washington sends the proposed Constitutional amendments (The United States Bill of Rights) to the States for ratification.

11.26.1789

A national Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States as recommended by President George Washington and approved by Congress.

1790

1.8.1790

George Washington delivers the first State of the Union Address in New York City.

1791

9.9.1791

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is named after President George Washington.

1792

2.20.1792

The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington.

4.5.1792

U.S. President George Washington exercises his authority to veto a bill, the first time this power is used in the United States.

1793

2.25.1793

George Washington holds the first Cabinet meeting as President of the United States.

9.18.1793

The first cornerstone of the Capitol building is laid by George Washington.

1794

8.7.1794

U.S. President George Washington invokes the Militia Law of 1792 to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania.

1796

9.19.1796

George Washington's farewell address is printed across America as an open letter to the public.

1797

3.4.1797

In the first ever peaceful transfer of power between elected leaders in modern times, John Adams is sworn in as President of the United States, succeeding George Washington.

1976

10.11.1976

George Washington's appointment, posthumously, to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States by congressional joint resolution Public Law 94-479 is approved by President Gerald R. Ford.