George Washington

Although best known as a leader of the American forces in the Revolutionary War and the first president of the United States, George Washington was also wealthy and able landowner.

After his father’s death, young Washington learned the skills of plantation manager and how to operate family finances. When he was twenty-one, he inherited the 260-acre Ferry Farm, plus four smaller land parcels and ten slaves. Since he was skillful in science and mathematics, he became an expert draftsman and mapmaker who designed roads and bridges. By 1746, he became able land surveyor with considerable income. Three years later he became the surveyor of Culpepper County earning £125 per year. He conducted 190 land surveys to validate colonial land claims and deeds.

For his services, Washington was often paid in land, and in addition he bought 1,459 acres in the Shenandoah Valley. He also speculated in land. In 1752 Washington began his military career after Robert Dinwiddie, lieutenant governor of Virginia, appointed him a commander of Virginia’s southern district militia. In the following period he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia, and charged to expel the French from the Ohio Valley.

In 1759 he married Martha Dandridge Custis, the wealthy widow of Daniel Parke Custis, who contributed to his personal prosperity. She brought him a dowry of two hundred slaves, land property and cash. In the meantime, he was awarded for his military service in the French and Indian War with vast tracks of land in western Virginia as well. Consequently they became one of the wealthiest families in Virginia, living the lifestyle of wealthy planter.

After the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1775, Washington was commissioned by the Continental Congress to be commander in chief of the Continental Army, and later became the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797.

He used much of his wealth for public benefit, and his image has become the symbol of the United States.