哪位仁兄能帮我查一下美国总统华盛顿的英文介绍

WASHINGTON,George(1732-1799),firstpresidentoftheU.S.,commanderinchiefoftheContinentalarmyduringtheAmericanRevolution.Hesymbolizedqualitiesofdiscipline,aristocraticduty,militaryorthodoxy,andpersistenceinadversitythathiscontemporariesparticularlyvaluedasmarksofmaturepoliticalleadership.

WashingtonwasbornonFeb.22,1732,inWestmorelandCo.,Va.,theeldestsonofAugustineWashington(1694??743),aVirginiaplanter,andMaryBallWashington(1708?9).AlthoughWashingtonhadlittleornoformalschooling,hisearlynotebooksindicatethathereadingeography,militaryhistory,agriculture,deportment,andcompositionandthatheshowedsomeaptitudeinsurveyingandsimplemathematics.Inlaterlifehedevelopedastyleofspeechandwritingthat,althoughnotalwayspolished,wasmarkedbyclarityandforce.Tall,strong,andfondofaction,hewasasuperbhorsemanandenjoyedtherobustsportsandsocialoccasionsoftheVirginiaplantersociety.Attheageof16hewasinvitedtojoinapartytosurveylandsownedbytheFairfaxfamily(towhichhewasrelatedbymarriage)westoftheBlueRidgeMountains.Hisjourneyledhimtotakealifelonginterestinthedevelopmentofwesternlands.Inthesummerof1749hewasappointedofficialsurveyorforCulpeperCo.,andduringthenexttwoyearshemademanysurveysforlandownersontheVirginiafrontier.In1753hewasappointedadjutantofoneofthedistrictsintowhichVirginiawasdivided,withtherankofmajor.

EarlyMilitaryExperience.

WashingtonplayedanimportantroleinthestrugglesprecedingtheoutbreakoftheFrenchandIndianWar.HewaschosenbyLt.Gov.RobertDinwiddieofVirginiatodeliveranultimatumcallingonFrenchforcestoceasetheirencroachmentintheOhioRivervalley.TheyoungmessengerwasalsoinstructedtoobservethestrengthofFrenchforces,thelocationoftheirforts,andtheroutesbywhichtheymightbereinforcedfromCanada.Aftersuccessfullycompletingthismission,Washington,thenalieutenantcolonel,wasorderedtoleadamilitiaforcefortheprotectionofworkerswhowerebuildingafortattheForksoftheOhioRiver.HavinglearnedthattheFrenchhadoustedtheworkpartyandrenamedthesiteFortDuquesne,heentrenchedhisforcesatacampnamedFortNecessityandawaitedreinforcements.AsuccessfulFrenchassaultobligedhimtoacceptarticlesofsurrender,andhedepartedwiththeremnantsofhiscompany.

Washingtonresignedhiscommissionin1754,butinMay1755hebeganserviceasavolunteeraide-de-camptotheBritishgeneralEdwardBraddock,whohadbeensenttoVirginiawithaforceofBritishregulars.AfewkilometersfromFortDuquesne,Braddock抯menwereambushedbyabandofFrenchsoldiersandIndians.Braddockwasmortallywounded,andWashington,whobehavedgallantlyduringtheconflict,narrowlyescapeddeath.InAugust1755hewasappointed(withtherankofcolonel)tocommandtheVirginiaregiment,chargedwiththedefenseofthelongwesternfrontierofthecolony.WarbetweenFranceandBritainwasofficiallydeclaredinMay1756,andwhiletheprincipalstrugglemovedtootherareas,WashingtonsucceededinkeepingtheVirginiafrontierrelativelysafe.

TheAmericanRevolution.

AfterthedeathofhiselderhalfbrotherLawrence(1718?2),WashingtoninheritedtheplantationknownasMountVernon.Aspectacularriseinthepriceoftobaccoduringthe1730sand?0s,combinedwithhismarriagein1759toMarthaCustis,ayoungwidowwithalargeestate,madehimoneofthewealthiestmeninVirginia.ElectedtotheHouseofBurgessesin1758,heservedconscientiouslybutwithoutspecialdistinctionfor17years.HealsogainedpoliticalandadministrativeexperienceasjusticeofthepeaceforFairfaxCo.

LikeotherVirginiaplanters,WashingtonbecamealarmedbytherepressivemeasuresoftheBritishcrownandParliamentinthe1760sandearly?0s.InJuly1774hepresidedoverameetinginAlexandriathatadoptedtheFairfaxResolves,callingfortheestablishmentandenforcementofastringentboycottonBritishimportspriortosimilaractionbytheFirstContinentalCongress.TogetherwithhisserviceintheHouseofBurgesses,hispublicresponsetounpopularBritishpolicieswonWashingtonelectionasaVirginiadelegatetotheFirstContinentalCongressinSeptemberandOctober1774andtotheSecondContinentalCongressin1775.

Theopeningcampaignsofthewar.

WhenfightingbrokeoutbetweenMassachusettsandtheBritishin1775,CongressnamedWashingtoncommanderofitsnewlycreatedContinentalarmy,hopingthustopromoteunitybetweenNewEnglandandVirginia.HetookcommandofthemakeshiftforcebesiegingtheBritishinBostoninmid-July,andwhentheenemyevacuatedthecityinMarch1776,hemovedhisarmytoNewYork.DefeatedthereinAugustbyGen.WilliamHowe,hewithdrewfromManhattantoestablishanewdefensivelinenorthofNewYorkCity.InNovemberheretreatedacrosstheHudsonRiverintoNewJersey,andamonthlatercrossedtheDelawaretosafetyinPennsylvania.

AlthoughdemoralizedbyHowe抯easycaptureofNewYorkCityandnorthernNewJersey,WashingtonspottedthepointswheretheBritishwereoverextended.RecrossingtheicyDelawareonthenightofDec.25,1776,hecapturedTrentoninasurpriseattackthefollowingmorning,andonJan.3,1777,hedefeatedBritishtroopsatPrinceton.Thesetwoengagementsrestoredpatriotmorale,andbyspringWashingtonhad8000newrecruits.Impressedbysuchtenacity,HowedelayedmovingagainstWashingtonuntillateAugust,whenhelandedanarmyattheheadofChesapeakeBay.Wantingtofight,WashingtontriedunsuccessfullytoblockHowe抯advancetowardPhiladelphiaattheBattleofBrandywineCreekinSeptember.FollowingtheBritishoccupationofthecity,hefoughtaminorbattlewiththematGermantown,buttheirsuperiornumbersforcedhimtoretreat.WashingtonandhismenspentthefollowingwinteratValleyForge,westofPhiladelphia.Duringthesemonths,whenhisfortunesseemedtohavereachedtheirlowestpoint,hethwartedaplanbyhisenemiesinCongressandthearmytohavehimremovedascommanderinchief.

InJune1778,afterFrance抯entryintothewarontheAmericanside,thenewBritishcommander,SirHenryClinton,evacuatedPhiladelphiaandmarchedoverlandtoNewYork;WashingtonattackedhimatMonmouth,N.J.,butwasagainrepulsed.WashingtonblamedthedefeatonGen.CharlesLee抯insubordinationduringthebattle梩heclimaxofalong-brewingrivalrybetweenthetwomen.

Victory.

WashingtonspentthenexttwoyearsinrelativeinactivitywithhisarmyencampedinalongsemicirclearoundtheBritishbastionofNewYorkCity梖romConnecticuttoNewJersey.Thearrivalin1780ofabout6000FrenchtroopsinRhodeIslandunderthecomtedeRochambeauaugmentedhisforces,buttheweakU.S.governmentwasapproachingbankruptcy,andWashingtonknewthathehadtodefeattheBritishin1781orseehisarmydisintegrate.HehopedforacombinedAmerican-FrenchassaultonNewYork,butinAugusthereceivedwordthataFrenchfleetwasproceedingtoChesapeakeBayforacombinedlandandseaoperationagainstanotherBritisharmyinVirginia,andreluctantlyagreedtomarchsouth.

WashingtonandRochambeau抯movementof7000troops,halfofthemFrench,fromNewYorkStatetoVirginiainlessthanfiveweekswasamasterpieceofexecution.WashingtonsentwordaheadtothemarquisdeLafayette,commandingAmericanforcesinVirginia,tokeeptheBritishcommander,LordCornwallis,fromleavinghisbaseofoperationsatYorktown.AttheendofSeptembertheFranco-AmericanarmyjoinedLafayette.OutnumberingtheBritishbytwotoone,andwith36FrenchshipsoffshoretopreventYorktownfrombeingrelievedbysea,WashingtonforcedCornwallistosurrenderinOctoberafterabriefsiege.AlthoughpeaceandBritishrecognitionofU.S.independencedidnotcomeforanothertwoyears,YorktownprovedtobethelastmajorlandbattleoftheRevolution.

Washingtonasamilitaryleader.

Washington抯contributiontoAmericanvictorywasenormous,andanalysisofhisleadershiprevealsmuchaboutthenatureofthemilitaryandpoliticalconflict.BeingselectiveaboutwhereandwhenhefoughttheBritishmainforcepreventedhisfoesfromusingtheirstrongestasset,theprofessionalismanddisciplineoftheirsoldiers.Atthesametime,Washingtonremainedaconventionalmilitaryofficer.HerejectedproposalsmadebyGen.CharlesLeeearlyinthewarforadecentralizedguerrillastruggle.Asaconservative,heshrankfromthesocialdislocationandredistributionofwealththatsuchaconflictwouldcause;asaprovincialgentleman,hewasdeterminedtoshowthatAmericanofficerscouldbeeverybitascivilizedandgenteelastheirEuropeancounterparts.ThepracticalresultofthiscautionandeveninhibitionwastopreservetheContinentalarmyasavisiblemanifestationofAmericangovernmentwhenallegiancetothatgovernmentwastenuous.

PoliticalLeadership.

Inoneofhislastactsascommander,Washingtonissuedacircularlettertothestatesimploringthemtoformavibrant,vigorousnationalgovernment.In1783hereturnedtoMountVernonandbecameinthemid-1780sanenterprisingandeffectiveagriculturalist.Shay抯Rebellion,anarmedrevoltinMassachusetts(1786?7),convincedmanyAmericansoftheneedforastrongergovernment.WashingtonandotherVirginianationalistswereinstrumentalinbringingabouttheConstitutionalConventionof1787topromotethatend.ElectedasadelegatetotheconventionbytheVirginiaGeneralAssembly,Washingtonwaschosenitspresident.Inthispositionheplayedvirtuallynorole梕itherformalorbehindthescenes梚nthedeliberationsoftheconvention;however,hisreticenceandlackofintellectualflairmaywellhaveenhancedhisobjectivityintheeyesofthedelegates,therebycontributingtotheunself-consciousgiveandtakethatwasthehallmarkoftheframers?deliberations.Also,theprobabilitythatWashingtonwouldbethefirstpresidentmayhaveeasedthetaskofdesigningthatoffice.HisattendanceattheConstitutionalConventionandhissupportforratificationoftheConstitutionwereimportantforitssuccessinthestateconventionsin1787and1788.

Firstadministration.

Electedpresidentin1788andagainin1792,Washingtonpresidedovertheformationandinitialoperationofthenewgovernment.Hisstiffdignityandsenseofproprietypostponedtheemergenceofthefiercepartisanshipthatwouldcharacterizetheadministrationsofhisthreesuccessors桱ohnAdams,ThomasJefferson,andJamesMadison.Healsomadeseveraldecisionsoffar-reachingimportance.Heinstitutedthecabinet,althoughnosuchbodywasenvisionedbytheConstitution.HewassociallyalooffromCongress,thusavoidingthedevelopmentofcourtandoppositionfactions.ByappointingAlexanderHamiltonsecretaryofthetreasuryandThomasJeffersonsecretaryofstate,hebroughtthetwoablestandmostprincipledfiguresoftherevolutionarygenerationintocentralpositionsofresponsibility.WashingtonsupportedtheinnovationsinfiscalpolicyproposedbyHamilton梐fundednationaldebt,thecreationoftheBankoftheUnitedStates,assumptionofstatedebts,andexcisetaxes,especiallyonwhiskey,bywhichthefederalgovernmentwouldassertitspowertolevycontroversialtaxesandimportdutieshighenoughtopaytheinterestonthenewnationaldebt.Similarly,heallowedJeffersontopursueapolicyofseekingtradeandcooperationwithallEuropeannations.WashingtondidnotforeseethatHamilton抯andJefferson抯policieswereultimatelyincompatible.Hamilton抯planforanexpandingnationaldebtyieldinganattractiverateofreturnforinvestorsdependedonahighleveloftradewithBritaingeneratingenoughimport-dutyrevenuetoservicethedebt.HamiltonthereforefeltthathehadtomeddleinforeignpolicytotheextentofleakingsecretdispatchestotheBritish.

Secondadministration.

TheoutbreakofwarbetweenrevolutionaryFranceandacoalitionledbyBritain,Prussia,andAustriain1793jeopardizedAmericanforeignpolicyandcrippledJefferson抯rivalforeignpolicydesign.WhentheFrenchenvoy,EdmondGen阾,arrivedinCharlestoninApril1793andbeganrecruitingAmericanprivateers梐ndpromisingaidtolandspeculatorswhowantedFrenchassistanceinexpellingSpainfromtheGulfCoast梂ashingtoninsisted,overJefferson抯reservations,thattheU.S.denounceGen阾andremainneutralinthewarbetweenFranceandBritain.Washington抯anti-Frenchleanings,coupledwiththeaggressiveattitudeofthenewregimeinFrancetowardtheU.S.,thusservedtobringaboutthetriumphofHamilton抯pro-Britishforeignpolicy梖ormalizedbyJay抯Treatyof1795,whichsettledoutstandingAmericandifferenceswithBritain.

Thetreaty梬hichmanyAmericansfeltcontainedtoomanyconcessionstotheBritish梩ouchedoffastormofcontroversy.TheSenateratifiedit,butopponentsintheHouseofRepresentativestriedtoblockappropriationstoestablishthearbitrationmachinery.Inararedisplayofpoliticalpugnacity,WashingtonchallengedtheproprietyoftheHousetamperingwithtreatymaking.Hisbelligerenceonthisoccasioncosthimhisprizedreputationasaleaderaboveparty,butitwasalsodecisiveinsecuringa51?8votebytheHousetoimplementthetreaty.ConsciousofthevalueofhisformativeroleinshapingthepresidencyandcertainlystungbytheinvectivehurledatadvocatesoftheJayTreaty,Washingtoncarefullypreparedafarewelladdresstomarktheendofhispresidency,callingontheU.S.toavoidbothentanglingalliancesandpartyrancor.

Afterleavingofficein1797,WashingtonretiredtoMountVernon,wherehediedonDec.14,1799.

Evaluation.

Washington抯placeintheAmericanmindisafascinatingchapterintheintellectuallifeofthenation.Washingtonprovidedhiscontemporarieswithconcreteevidenceofthevalueofthecitizensoldier,theenlightenedgentlemanfarmer,andtherealisticnationalistinstabilizingthecultureandpoliticsoftheyoungrepublic.Shortlyafterthepresident抯death,anEpiscopalclergyman,MasonLockeWeems,wroteafancifullifeofWashingtonforchildren,stressingthegreatman抯honesty,piety,hardwork,patriotism,andwisdom.Thisbook,whichwentthroughmanyeditions,popularizedthestorythatWashingtonasaboyhadrefusedtolieinordertoavoidpunishmentforcuttingdownhisfather抯cherrytree.WashingtonlongservedasasymbolofAmericanidentityalongwiththeflag,theConstitution,andtheFourthofJuly.TheageofdebunkingbiographiesofAmericanpersonagesinthe1920sincludedamultivolumedenigrationofWashingtonbyAmericanauthorRupertHughes(1872?956),whichhelpedtodistortAmericans?understandingoftheirnationalorigins.Boththeheroworshipandthedebunkingmisstheessentialpointthathisleadershipabilitiesandhispersonalprincipleswereexactlytheonesthatmettheneedsofhisowngeneration.AslaterhistorianshaveexaminedcloselytheideasoftheFoundingFathersandthenatureofwarfareintheRevolution,theyhavecometotheconclusionthatWashington抯specificcontributionstothenewnationwere,ifanything,somewhatunderestimatedbyearlierscholarship.