George Washington's Birthday Celebrated
Today marks the 208th birthday of America's first president George Washington.
Washington, who served as the commander-in-chief in America's War for Independence, was born in Westmorland County, Va. 1732 on a tobacco plantation to a wealthy and well-connected family. He had nine siblings, six of which lived to adulthood.
His father was a slave owning tobacco planter who died when Washington was the tender age of 11. As a result of his loss, Washington became close to another historical figure, William Fairfax. Fairfax became a formative figure for the young Washington and promoted his career as a soldier and ultimately a leader.
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Many consider Washington the first revolutionary in the modern world as he led American forces to freedom from the British Empire and guided the country during its early years. He served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797, fulfilling two terms in office.
Washington was the first and only president thus far to receive a unanimous vote of the Electoral College, and was also the only Founding Father to free his slaves.
The United States began celebrating Washington in 1796 during the final year of his presidency and in 1880 Congress made Washington's birthday a federal holiday. For the first 83 years, the U.S. honored the birthday of the founding father on the actual day of his birth. However, in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday's Act, moving the holiday to the third Monday in February.
Abraham Lincoln, another of America's Founding Fathers, was also born in February, which is why on the third Monday of this month we celebrate President's Day, despite the fact that the official name of the holiday remains "Washington's Birthday."
Washington remains one of the most respected president's in U.S. history and a new poll released by the Public Policy Polling Survey this past Friday found that 89 percent of Americans view the first president favorably.
