George Washington, age 67, of Virginia, passed away December 14, 1799. He was born in Wakefield Plantation, Virginia in 1732 and was the eldest of six children from his father's second marriage. He lost his father when he was 11 and started to look up to his half brother who served in the Royal Navy, which led to his interest in pursuing a naval career. At the age of 16, in 1748, Washington joined a surveying party sent out to the Shenandoah …showed first 75 words of 290 total…

…showed last 75 words of 290 total…he eventually produced a well-trained and disciplined fighting force. He defeated the British Army at Yorktown which led to the colonists winning the Revolutionary War. After the colonies were free from England, Washington helped build a new government. He was then elected the first president of the United States. He served eight years as president and then retired to Mount Vernon. He died at the age of 67 in 1799. In his will, he emancipated his slaves.