乔治·华盛顿是美国的第一届总统，并被一致认为是美国的五大领袖之一。他于1732年出生于弗吉尼亚州。他家境富裕，家里有一个种植园。随着年龄的增长，他学会了成为一个18世纪弗吉尼亚绅士所要求的道德、礼仪以及学识。成长过程中，他对两件事特别感兴趣：军事艺术和西方殖民扩张。
In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. He fought in the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The following year he escaped injury in battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him valuable lessons in leadership he would use later in his political life.
1754年，22岁的华盛顿在部队成为了一名美国陆军中校。他参加了法国和印度之战的第一次小规模战斗。第二年，尽管4颗子弹穿过他的上衣、2匹坐下的战马被子弹打中，而他却没受伤。从军经历给了他宝贵的领导经验，这些在他在日后的政治生涯中派上了用场。
From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis and devoted himself to farming life. However, he felt exploited by British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. He forced the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781.
从1759年到美国独立战争爆发，华盛顿一直在经营自己的农场。他与玛莎·丹德里奇·柯蒂斯结婚，并全身心投入到农耕生活中。然而，他感觉受到了英国商人及英国管制的剥削。1775年，他带领着一支训练不良的队伍开始了一场长达6年的艰苦战斗。1781年，他迫使英国人在约克镇投降。
Washington entered politics and became a prime mover in the steps leading to creating the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA's first President. Washington avoided further wars and promoted the importance of federal power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
1787年，华盛顿进入政坛，并成为创建美国宪法的主要发起人。新宪法获批后，总统选举团一致推选华盛顿为美国的第一任总统。此后，华盛顿在避免进一步战争的同时，也加强了联邦政府的权力。华盛顿于1799年，逝世，他被誉为“战争第一人、和平第一人、国民心中的第一人。”
