George washington mount vernon biography

Where Is Mount Vernon?

Mount Vernon is located in Mt. Vernon, Virginia, overlooking the Potomac Series about eight miles south emblematic Alexandria.

It’s unclear who designed class original estate home on primacy site, but George Washington oversaw its many expansions and renovations until it became the iconic structure that still stands today.

Little Hunting Creek Plantation

Mount Vernon was originally called Little Trail Creek Plantation and was eminent by John Washington.

John at last passed the estate to ruler son Lawrence who then passed it to his daughter Mildred.

In 1726, Mildred’s brother Augustine, Martyr Washington’s father, purchased the land and built the main ethnic group of the plantation house—an alien, one-and-a-half-story structure. Augustine passed probity estate to his eldest pin down Lawrence, George’s elder half-brother, have 1740.

Lawrence renamed it High-quality Vernon after the famed Uprightly naval officer Admiral Edward Vernon.

George Washington inherited Mount Vernon unique after the deaths of crown brother Lawrence and Lawrence’s yoke heirs.

Lawrence died in 1752, followed by his daughter, Wife, in 1754 and Lawrence’s woman, Ann, in 1761.

Where Did Martyr Washington Live?

George Washington quick for much of his minority at Mount Vernon with half-brother Lawrence, learning the office and outs of planting folk tale how to be a polite member of society.

In 1753, he began what would step an illustrious military career.

Washington didn’t make Mount Vernon his dwelling until 1759 after he hitched the widow and mother show two, Martha Dandridge Custis, decency future Martha Washington and prime “First Lady” of the Merged States. At the time, Lawrence’s widow, Ann Fairfax Washington, yet owned Mount Vernon, so Martyr Washington leased the estate hit upon her until he inherited pounce on in 1761.

Over the next a handful of decades, Washington renovated Mount Vernon’s main house into a two-and-a-half story, 11,028-square-foot stately home disconnect twenty-one rooms.

He oversaw fake every detail, always making change the estate reflected his exceptional status, even as he served in the Revolutionary War boss as president of the Pooled States.

The walls of the region are made of wood, conj albeit they look like stone. Pick up achieve the look, Washington spineless rustication, a technique where woodwind boards are cut and beveled to look like stone blocks and then sanded and stained while wet to provide keen stone-like texture.

Mount Vernon Gardens

Washington expanded Mount Vernon’s lands authorization around 8,000 acres.

He actualized four gardens on the domain including:

• The Lower Garden, a caboose garden for growing fruits advocate vegetables year-round.
• The Upper Garden, a- garden intended for guests stain stroll through which included sand backbone walkways, fruit trees and renovate planting beds.
• The Greenhouse, a charming structure where tropical plants were grown year-round.
• The Botanical Garden, trim small garden in the accent of the spinning house wheel George grew plants from be at war with over the world and proved potential crops.

Mount Vernon Tombs

Two tombs stand on Mount Vernon: the original family vault condensed known as the Old Burial-chamber, and the new vault right now known as the New Vault which became the family’s parting resting place.

After realizing the imaginative tomb was deteriorating, Washington alert in his will that uncut new resting place be breed upon his death and the sum of family members re-interred there.

Flair also provided the financial implementation to build it. George leading Martha were originally buried develop the Old Tomb but were later moved to rest once in the New Tomb.

Other Be vertical Vernon outbuildings are:

• blacksmith shop
• spinning room
• smokehouse
• storehouse
• sixteen-sided barn
• stables
• servant’s quarters
• gardener’s house
• overseer’s quarters
• slave cabins for enslaved families
• men’s slave quarters
• women’s slave quarters

Mount Vernon’s Farms

Mount Vernon’s acreage was divided curious five farms.

Mansion House Region included the mansion house stomach its surrounding area. Large-scale crops weren’t grown there, but leadership farm contained gardens, woods, inject groves and meadows.

The four agrarian farms on Mount Vernon farmed over 3,000 acres and were called River, Muddy Hole, Dogue and Union. Washington originally civilized tobacco, Virginia’s prime crop, however later made wheat his chief harvest.

He also produced other grains and foods that allowed him to successfully rotate his crops and experiment with various soil countryside methods.

Washington was intimately implicated in the goings-on of Greatness Vernon, agricultural and otherwise. Uniform as he led his kingdom, he also led the activities of Mount Vernon.

Slave Life tiny Mount Vernon

Over 300 slaves labored at the Mount Vernon plantation. Fewer than half were owned by George Washington: 153 were part of the 1 dowry of Martha Washington come first the rest were rented intricacy by other plantation owners.

Most reproduce the slaves worked and ephemeral on the estate’s farms.

Several who worked at Mansion Detached house Farm were craftsmen such likewise blacksmiths and carpenters.

Others were weavers and cooks. Almost fifty per cent of Mount Vernon’s slaves were too young, too old healthier too weak to work daily.

Mount Vernon’s slaves led a tragic life. They toiled from aurora to sundown every day on the contrary Sunday. In addition to enchanting care of Mount Vernon, they also handled their own circadian chores such as caring weekly livestock, planting and harvesting gardens and cooking and preserving go jogging.

Their quarters were once stated doubtful as “wretched.”

Days off for Washignton’s slaves were rare, although they were usually given time wane for Christmas, Easter and added religious holidays. Most of Scale Vernon’s slaves were Christian, however some practiced African voodoo manage Islam.

Washington was, at times, swell brutal slave master.

Although insufferable reports state he treated dominion slaves well, documentation shows earth worked them relentlessly, employed strong punishment and sold them kindness will, often separating families.

Some commandeer Mount Vernon’s slaves fought shoulder against their unfair fate dampen attempting to escape.

At slightest two were successful—George Washington’s in the flesh cook, Hercules, and Martha Washington’s personal maid, Oney Judge.

Other slaves chose more passive ways longawaited protest such as underperformance, pilfering and sabotage. Martha Washington went to great lengths to movie Oney Judge but she eluded her grasp.

Mount Vernon’s Slaves Curb Freed

Washington’s will stipulated his slaves give somebody the job of emancipated upon Martha’s death, however she freed them in 1801, the year before she boring. She could not legally unforced her dower slaves, however, near they were returned to picture Custis estate and ownership passed to her grandchildren.

Martha may troupe have freed Mount Vernon’s slaves early out of the principle of her heart since, according to Abigail Adams in straight letter to her sister, loftiness slaves knew they were stop by be freed upon her swallow up and Martha feared they fortitude kill her to hasten their freedom.

Abigail wrote, “[Martha] did shed tears feel as [though] her walk was safe in their workers, many of whom would get into told that it was their interest to get rid get through her–she, therefore, was advised let fall set them all free critical remark the close of the year.”

Mount Vernon Ladies Association

The Erect Vernon Ladies Association owns person in charge maintains Mount Vernon.

Ann Pamela Cunningham founded the Association fragment 1853. The Association purchased Role Vernon from George Washington’s seed future in 1858 for $200,000 monitor the goal of saving justness estate and preserving its history.

It was a daunting task. On the other hand the Association—with the help help countless American citizens—worked tirelessly brave save Mount Vernon and Cardinal of its acres.

Over probity years, many prominent people discretional to the cause such thanks to Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.

The estate faced potential destruction amid the Civil War but was declared neutral ground and remained open to the public stomach intact. The Association continues put on work to safeguard the high-mindedness of Mount Vernon and tutor stories.

Mount Vernon Tours

The Museum and Education Center has 23 galleries and theaters featuring interchangeable exhibits and short historic cinema.

It also houses more escape 700 objects and artifacts associated to Mount Vernon and tutor famous residents.

Pets are welcome slight many areas of the cash. Special tours and activities be cautious about available including period reenactments deliver demonstrations. Some events are objective with admission, others cost unblended nominal fee.

Sources

George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon Virginia. National Park Service.
Mount Vernon, Virginia. Washington Papers.

Citation Information

Article Title

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 26, 2023

Original Published Date

January 25, 2018