George Washington (1732-1799) was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. In 1748, he joined a surveying expedition to West Virginia and became the county surveyor a year later. Washington accompanied his brother and mentor, Lawrence, to Barbados in 1751; Lawrence died the next year, leaving Washington to inherit the family home, Mount Vernon, in Virginia. He also inherited Lawrence's position in the Virginia militia. As a major in the militia, Washington led troops against the French in Virginia and present-day Pennsylvania regions, but was not successful in his campaigns. He continued to fight throughout the French and Indian War, and his bravery won him command of the entire Virginia militia. In 1759, Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. He spent 1759-1775 as a farmer at Mount Vernon. In addition to his private endeavors, he served in the House of Burgesses, first being elected in 1758. In 1774, Washington was chosen as one of seven Virginia representatives to the Continental Congress. One year later, Congress commissioned him as commander of the Continental Army. Washington led the army to victory over the British during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he resigned and returned to Mount Vernon. Washington also acted as president of the Potomac Company in Virginia. He returned to Philadelphia in 1787 and presided over the Constitutional Convention. After the approval of the Constitution, Washington was unanimously elected President of the United States. He served two terms, 1789-1797, before naming John Adams as his successor and returning to Mount Vernon. He served his final public position in 1798 as the commanding general of a provisional army to be raised against a French invasion. Washington died on December 14, 1799.