Revered in the United States probably more than any other American is George Washington. You see his likeness in our money, and his name on schools, in counties, in a state and even in the name of the seat of our government.

Obviously there is a reason for all this adoration.

Simply put, Washington was a man who was a politician who did not behave like a politician. Before that, he was a general that did not seek glory. Two very unusual traits even in the days of the late 18th century. Frankly, it was these traits that have made him so beloved by the people of the time and caused many fables to spread about him after his death. He never threw a dollar across the Potomac and the story of the cherry tree is a fable. But these tales are very much typical of the kind of man he was.

Raised as one of many in a home of lower class gentry, Washington was the sort of person that once he set his mind to something, he did what it took to succeed. It is true that at the age of 17, he was off surveying what was then the Wilderness of the Ohio Territory. He also had hopes of being a successful soldier at this age, despite having zero training in the art. This led him to making some pretty major mistakes during his youth in the French and Indian War. In fact, one could quite easily make a case for his muddling about as the cause of the start of this long conflict.

He quickly realized that he needed to pay attention to others in order to build up his knowledge of what it took to lead men and plan campaigns, something he learned while attached to British forces during the French and Indian War. Once it was over, he settled down and thanks to his marriage to Martha Custis, a wealthy widow, he was able to settle down at what he really wanted to do; be a gentried farmer. Like all in his life, he put his full attention to his holdings and was something rare during Colonial days; a successful farmer.

When the Revolution came about, he offered his services to the Continental Congress; a group of real politicians who promised much but delivered little. Washington took no pay, only asked to have his expenses paid for. As the Congress was concerned about uniting the colonies, it was deemed that the leader of the Continental Army should be someone not from New England and Virginia was enough south to draw in the Carolinas and Georgia. So Washington was it. Washington was canny enough to realize that the army needed to stay in pretty much one piece to be effective and that he did with great skill. His training in the frontier allowed him to do more with less as promised money and materiel was not forthcoming. His skill in keeping the Army together won him praise from not only those in the Colonies, but also impressed the French enough to join in the war. Washington won few battles, but made sure his army was able to keep fighting. He did not lust for glory, but simply wanted to get the war over so he could return to farming.

During all this, he gained the trust and respect of his troops and his other officers. So much so that there was a major move afoot after the war to make him dictator or king. Washington refused and returned to farming once the war had ended.

When it was time to seek a leader for the new nation, it was natural that Washington would be asked. As a true patriot, he agreed and served two terms, which he thought was enough. At the end of that, there was an orderly and peaceful transition of leadership, the first anywhere in the world. He then retired back to his farm where he passed on in late1799.

There is much more to this book than the general synopsis provided. It is a story of a man who was remarkable in so many ways. A man who had the opportunity to rule as a king, but also one wise enough to realize that was not what the populace wanted. An outstanding read on an equally outstanding man and one you should not pass up.

November 2011

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