George Washington: A Revolutionary Life by Tim Grove

 George Washington - first president of the newly formed nation

There is not much known about George’s childhood, but as a young boy he had two good mentors, Colonel William Fairfax and Thomas Fairfax. Both men took interest in George’s career. Surveying lands was a position available to George (to a man of his status). At seventeen, he began work as a professional surveyor.

In September 1751, George took a trip to Barbados. On the way there to occupy his time, he was learning marine navigation. In Barbados, he observed great wealth and met interesting people who were eager to discuss the affairs of the British Empire.

This trip lasted only three months but it proved to be a turning point in his life. He developed interest in military. He expressed his interest in the position of adjutant for Virginia’s southern district and was accepted. As a self-taught man, he learned training techniques from a book.

In October 1753, George accepted an assignment to lead a mission as Britain’s emissary to the French, a 900-mile journey.

During his two and a half month trip, he kept a journal. Upon his return, the journal and a map of the region drawn by George was sent to printers for publication. Newspapers and British publishers printed it and unexpectedly George became known in prominent circles.

George was continuously making a name for himself as a good leader and diplomat.

Washington became frustrated when King George repeatedly denied the regiment royal commissions and life pensions despite their loyal service. Because of that George resigned and ended his service to the British Crown.

His main focus, after leaving the military post, was on expending farming at Mount Vernon, with a goal of establishing a sustainable and profitable business. Again, he had to learn how to run a large agricultural operation. He read many books on the subject and created a circle of experienced farmers and experts who could give him guidance.

Due to British laws restricting tobacco sales, but not restricting wheat sales, he switched to experimenting with wheat production, then milling it into flour. He turned out to be a savvy businessman.

In his social circles, the expected next step was for him to serve the community which with time extended further outward.

Now, he was learning how to navigate the political world. By 1769, he had emerged as a leader in resistance against British policies. Again, he was gaining skills on the job and from those with more experience and cultivated a network of influential people.

After repeated increases in taxes by the British and the incident with the Boston tea party, Washington began study the tactics of the esteemed Prussian military. He had to figure out how to unify an army collected from thirteen colonies.

He proved to be a good military leader. When the mission was accomplished, he submitted his resignation to Congress as he believed that the people had the right to choose the right leader for the united colonies.

Many people saw him as the best candidate for the first president. Once president, many people hoped he would remain president indefinitely, but he wanted to set a good example of not serving for life. He departed his position after his mission was accomplished of firmly establishing Constitution and setting solid foundation for a freshly formed country.

This biography exemplifies a man who never stopped elevating himself in life on a personal level and improving lives of others, yet one fact remains he took part in building democracy intended for all yet he kept enslaved people.

This biography is written in an accessible way for the middle-grade readers. It gives many interesting details yet it doesn’t overwhelm in its scope with historical details. It is interestingly narrated with many illustrations and inserts helping young readers to grasp all the information.

Source: ABRAMS Kids, May 2026

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Throughout his life, George Washington maintained a curiosity about the world and a thirst for knowledge.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         Most of the time, he was surrounded by some kind of mentors.

·         He was a self-taught man. Whenever, he needed to learn something new, he’d read books, and create a circle of experts who could give him guidance.

·         His trip to Barbados made him interest in military. Upon his arrival, he applied for a position in the military.

·         When an opportunity opened for a mission that was strenuous, it didn’t discourage him, he accepted the challenge.

·         His first professional position was in surveying land. This experience served him well in the military. While on a special mission, he surveyed the land for the military. His maps got published upon his return, unexpectedly he became known in prominent circles.

·         He never stopped elevating himself. He continuously made a name for himself as a good leader and diplomat.

·         He turned out to be a savvy businessman and proved to be a good military leader.

·         He always wanted to set a good example in every venture he undertook. However, one aspect will remain questionable - he took part in building democracy intended for all yet he kept enslaved people.

·         Once solid ground was created for a new nation, he proved with his own act what he created on paper. President had to be chosen democratically and serve a specific term only.

"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one" – George Washington

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

       

The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles by Bruce Lipton - “Author Lipton is a former medical school professor and research scientist. His experiments, and those of other leading-edge scientists, have examined in great detail the processes by which cells receive information. The implications of this research radically change our understanding of life. It shows that genes and DNA do not control our biology; that instead DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including the energetic messages emanating from our positive and negative thoughts. Dr. Lipton's profoundly hopeful synthesis of the latest and best research in cell biology and quantum physics is being hailed as a breakthrough, showing that our bodies can be changed as we retrain our thinking.”