George Washington was born February 22, 1732. He attained his well-rounded knowledge of literature, sciences, and penmanship through tutors. After Washington’s formal education, he moved to live with another brother, Lawrence, and his family. He began to pick up surveying and attended the College of William and Mary. When his brother, Lawrence, became ill and past away, and his brother’s wife and daughter past away too, Washington ended up with all of the Mount Vernon Estate at age 29. Washington also replaced his brother’s position of Adjutant of the Colony, equivalent to a Mayor of a county changing his life into both a political and military career. George Washington eventually accepted the position of our first president and remained in office for 8 years. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington expounds on his thoughts on religion and government. The following is an excerpt:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity. Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure–reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
The entire farewell address can be found here.