George Washington - Behind the Leader

First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere—uniform, dignified and commanding—his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting. . . . Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. . . . Such was the man for whom our nation mourns. ~ Major General Henry Lee, eulogy given on behalf of the nation, December 26, 1799

(Photo credit: George Washington Inn Blog)

As we have seen in this Leaving a Legacy series, George Washington was a very ambitious individual and leader. However, family and Mount Vernon were Washington's true passion.

Dr. Patricia Brady shares her thoughts about George Washington as a family man in The George Washington University’s discussion of “The Real George: Leadership and Character” (approximately 38 minutes into the presentation.)




Video highlights:

• Washington's wife Martha was considered a partner.
• He never pulled rank.
• Their relationship was even.
• Martha did what she wanted.
• Open view that Martha had good sense and knew what she was doing.
• Showed his respect for women.
• Martha followed George into the field.
• Washington was of utmost character. 
• Washington's social life was that of a restrained Southern farmer/planter.
• Washington loved learning and regretted that he was not formally educated.
• Washington supported intellectual curiosity and supported the concept of a national university.

George Washington - Father of our Country

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This installment of our Leaving a Leadership Legacy focuses on George Washington as Founding Father and first President of the United States.

"George Washington: First American President" Video Highlights:

• Washington set precedence for those who came after him followed.
• Appointed four well-known men (economic expert Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Henry Knox as Secretary of War, Edmund Randolph as Attorney General), to help lead the new nation, establising the first Presidential Cabinet.
• Supported plans to set up a National bank to help pay off federal and states debts incurred during the war. Compromised with Southern states who had already paid off their debts by agreeing to build the federal Capitol (Washington D.C.) in the South.
• Rode into Pennsylvania with his army during the Whiskey Rebellion to show that armed rebellion in the new democracy would not be tolerated.
• Washington was a man of peace. When France went to war with Britian, Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality.
• Reluctantly served two terms and denied serving a third.

Another video "Fractured Union" (a 60-minute Windows Media Player video created with the generous support of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens and the Fairfax Network) provides an excellent view of George Washington's relationships with fellow Founding Fathers and why he was selected as the first President of the United States.

Additional Resources:

• George Washington. Michael P. Riccards presentation for the Miller Center. (approximately 1 hour)
• George Washington's Farwell Address. MillerCenter.org.
• George Washington: The Reluctant President. Smithsonian.com. February 2011.

George Washington – Revered and Love by His Subordinates

(Photo credit: John Trumbull. Wikipedia)

One of George Washington greatest aspirations--even at the age of 15--was to be commissioned by the Royal Army. Unable to attend schooling in England and lacking support from his mother to join the Royal Army, Washington's ambitious drive, character, mathematical abilities, and family connections led to a job as surveyor. He would amass much land, learned a lot about the expansion of the country, and became well-connected during the process.

On many occassions, Washington would dedicate himself to military service of his country. However, Washington is not known for his military successes. In fact, he lost more battles than he won. So why did leaders continually ask that he lead their troops and eventually become this nation's first President and commander and chief?

This following letter presented to Washington by his subordinates upon his retirement from military service may enlighten us:

Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of American. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton.
FORT LOUDOUN Decr. 31st. 1758
The humble Address of the Officers of the Virginia Regiment.

SIR,

We your most obedient and affectionate Officers, beg leave to express our great Concern, at the disagreeable News we have received of your Determination to resign the Command of that Corps, in which we have under you long served.

The happiness we have enjoy'd, and the Honor we have acquir'd, together with the mutual Regard that has always subsisted between you and your Officers, have implanted so sensible an Affection in the Minds of us all, that we cannot be silent on this critical Occasion.

In our earliest Infancy you took us under your Tuition, train'd us up in the Practice of that Discipline, which alone can constitute good Troops, from the punctual Observance of which you never suffer'd the least Deviation.

Your steady adherance to impartial Justice, your quick Discernment and invarable Regard to Merit, wisely intended to inculcate those genuine Sentiments, of true Honor and Passion for Glory, from which the great military Atcheivements have been deriv'd, first heighten'd our natural Emulation, and our Desire to excel. How much we improv'd by those Regulations, and your own Example, with what Alacrity we have hitherto discharg'd our Duty, with what Chearfulness we have encounter'd the several Toils, especially while under your particular Directions, we submit to yourself, and flatter ourselves, that we have in a great measure answer'd your Expectations.

Judge then, how sensibly we must be Affected with the loss of such an excellent Commander, such a sincere Friend, and so affable a Companion. How rare is it to find those amable Qualifications blended together in one Man? How great the Loss of such a Man? Adieu to that Superiority, which the Enemy have granted us over other Troops, and which even the Regulars and Provincials have done us the Honor publicly to acknowledge. Adieu to that strict Discipline and order, which you have always maintain'd! Adieu to that happy Union and Harmony, which has been our principal Cement!

It gives us an additional Sorrow, when we reflect, to find, our unhappy Country will receive a loss, no less irreparable, than ourselves. Where will it meet a Man so experienc'd in military Affairs? One so renown'd for Patriotism, Courage and Conduct? Who has so great knowledge of the Enemy we have to deal with? Who so well acquainted with their Situation & Strength? Who so much respected by the Soldiery? Who in short so able to support the military Character of Virginia?

Your approv'd Love to your King and Country, and your uncommon Perseverance in promoting the Honor and true Interest of the Service, convince us, that the most cogent Reasons only could induce you to quit it, Yet we with the greatest Deference, presume to entreat you to suspend those Thoughts for another Year, and to lead us on to assist in compleating the Glorious Work of extirpating our Enemies, towards which so considerable Advances have been already made. In you we place the most implicit Confidence. Your Presence only will cause a steady Firmness and Vigor to actuate in every Breast, despising the greatest Dangers, and thinking light of Toils and Hardships, while lead on by the Man we know and Love.

But if we must be so unhappy as to part, if the Exigencies of your Affairs force you to abandon Us, we beg it as our last Request that you will recommend some Person most capable to command, whose Military Knowledge, whose Honor, whose Conduct, and whose disinterested Principles we may depend upon.

Frankness, Sincerity, and a certain Openness of Soul, are the true Characteristics of an Officer, and we flatter ourselves that you do not think us capable of saying anything, contrary to the purest Dictates of our Minds. Fully persuaded of this, we beg Leave to assure you, that as you have hitherto been the actuating Soul of the whole Corps, we shall at all times pay the most invariable Regard to your Will and Pleasure, and will always be happy to demonstrate by our Actions, with how much Respect and Esteem we are,
... Sir.
... Your most affectionate
... & most obedt. humble Servants

Sources:

• 1st Virginia Regiment to George Washington, December 31, 1758. Library of Congress.
• American President: George Washinton (1732-1799).
• George Washington: A National Treasure.
• Military Career of George Washington, Wikipedia.
• What Made George Washington a Good Leader? National Endowment for the Humanities. (Complete with lesson plans.)

George Washington - Visionary Entrepreneur

(Photo credit: Mount Vernon Estate, Museum, and Gardens)

George Washington was a visonary and an entrepreneur. Although most of us know him for his military career, he had great passion for leading this country forward through agriculture, vision, and innovation. He gave his life to service and the development of a new nation, but his love of Mount Vernon and all that he could do to expand agriculture through technology (and make a few dollars) was a huge ethical dilemma he had every time America called.

As we discussed in previous weeks, Washington acquired a lot of land; however, many have called him "land rich, cash poor." Washington believed that those with the funds and ability to innovate should take the risk those less fortunate could not. He believed those able should create the blue print for the new nation--to show what right looks like.

I came across The George Washington University’s discussion of “The Real George: Leadership and Character.” Dennis Pogue shares his account of George Washington as an entrepreneur (about 19 minutes into the program; however, the whole video supports this blog series). Check it out below.

Another read about Washington as a visionary entrepreneur is Founding Father, Entrepreneur by John Berlau, February 12, 2009.

• Washington developed Mt. Vernon from a floundering tobacco plantation to a multi-faceted agroindustrial enterprise: a fishery, meat processing facility, textile and weaving manufactory, distillery, gristmill, blacksmith shop, brickmaking kiln, cargo-carrying schooner, and grain.

George Washington - Beyond Childhood Myths to Leader of People

(Photo credit: WikiTree)

Stories abound regarding George Washington’s early childhood including chopping down a cherry tree and throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac River. True or not, stories have a way of framing our history. As an adult and student of history failure (doing my best to change that now), I admit these insignificant stories shaped my perception of this American leader and icon. Let us go beyond the myths and address some early influences that shaped one of the most significant leaders in American history.

• George Washington was born February 22, 1732—the first of six children from his father’s second marriage and half-brother to three siblings from his father’s first marriage.
• George's father Augustine provided well for his family as a successful owner of numerous plantations and justice of the county court. However, he died when George was 11 years old.
• George was unable to study abroad; his formal education ended when he was approximately 15 years of age.
• As a teenager, George had aspirations of leadership in the British Army; but his mother’s dissent led him to a career as a surveyor where he acquired land and grew his connections and influence. He was a very young leader of people.
• George was known as a man of character undoubtedly influenced by 110 French maxims of his day: Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. Here are a few wildland fire leaders might consider (note they are as Washington wrote them in his school book):
• 6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.
• 14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.
• 39th In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.
• 40th Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty.
• [4]9 Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.
• [5]0th Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparag[e]ment of any.
• 56th Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad Company.
• 58th Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for 'tis a Sig[n o]f a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion [ad]mit Reason to Govern.
• 59th Never express anything unbecoming, nor Act agst the Rules Mora[l] before your inferiours.
• 73d Think before you Speak pronounce not imperfectly nor bring ou[t] your Words too hastily but orderly & distinctly.
• 74th When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired, Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speec[h] be ended.
• 82d Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Carefull to keep your Promise.
• 110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Ce[les]tial fire Called Conscience.

References:

• Biography.com
• Mount Vernon website
• The Papers of George Washington
• White House website
• Wikipedia

George Washington - A Man. A Myth.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are like me, a picture of George Washington hung in classrooms along your educational journey. From what I understand, fewer and fewer classrooms host a picture of George Washington and some history books and researchers tend to downplay his importance in our nation's history. As students of fire, we can only view history from the lens of those before us. Eric Carlson, leader of our Gettysburg Staff Ride, often quotes Paul Tillich in saying:

• All history is remembered history.
• The meaning of history lies beyond history.
• There are two periods in history: one of preparation and one of expectation.

Therefore, as you follow our Leaving a Leadership Legacy series, I suggest you look past the author or speaker bias and view the perspective as if true and assess how you would lead within each situation. Additionally, I encourage students of fire to expand their research of Washington's leadership legacy, including various perspectives, and participate in healthy debate with other students.

 

As an introduction to our series, I invite you to participate in Columbia University’s four-session online seminar “George Washington and the Legacy of Character.” The learning objectives include:

• Compare and contrast George Washington's modern reputation and his true character.
• Understand how Washington's experiences as a youth influenced his behavior later in life, especially in his role as president.
• Learn about the classical philosophy and Stoic ideals that were popular among Virginians in the eighteenth century.
• Understand how Washington's actions and beliefs contributed to his admiration by the American public.
• Be familiar with the basic events of Washington's life before and after his term of public service.
• Understand the ways in which Washington's death reflected his lifelong character.