Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1906 Excerpt: ... INTRODUCTION Life Of Washington The Statesman In preparation for a careful study of Washington's great political masterpiece, his Farewell Address to the People of the United States, it will be best to devote most space to a consideration of his work as a statesman in the organization and successful beginning of the American nation; yet to comprehend this phase of his life fully it will be necessary to glance at the principal incidents of his earlier life in Virginia, his exploits in the French and Indian War, and his masterly guidance of the colonial troops through the Revolution. It is hardly necessary to mention the date of Washington's birth, because February 22, 1732, is a date almost as well known as July 4, 1776. For almost a hundred years before Washington was born, his ancestors had been living in Virginia. The place of his birth was at Wakefield, in the colony of Virginia, near the shore of the Potomac River, in a parish named Washington, after the original settler of that name, John Washington, great-grandfather of George. Washington's boyhood up to the age of sixteen was spent at Wakefield or in its vicinity. He lived from 1735 to 1739 on tne plantation that was later called Mount Vernon. Then the family moved to an estate nearly opposite Fredericksburg, where Washington lived till the death of his father in 1743. After this, for the rest of his boyhood, he was under the care of his mother and his half-brothers, Lawrence and Augustine. When the father's estates were divided, George went to live at v Augustine's house on the old Wakefield plantation, since that was close to a good school. Returning to his mother's home, he attended a school kept by the Rev. James Marye. The copy books he worked on have been preserved. In them are found copied in ...