The military career of George Washington spanned over 45 years of service (1752–1799). At the young age of 22, he was appointed a district adjutant of the Virginia militia, with the rank of major. He went on to serve as a colonel of the Virginia regiment during the French and Indian War.
But Washington's most consequential military role was as Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in America's fight for independence.
Explore below to track highlights of his military career, surprising facts about his leadership, and the words he spoke to inspire a people fighting for a new nation.
George Washington's Military Highlights: Timeline
George Washington, at age 23, becomes colonel of the Virginia regiment during the French and Indian War (1754–1763). He resigns from the colonial military in 1758 after failing to earn a commission in the royal British military—which he believes is a sign his military career is over. More
On June 15, 1775, the Second Continental Congress appoints Washington as commander-in-chief of the newly-created Continental Army. On July 3, he takes formal command of the army in Massachusetts, where the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) is already underway. More
By the time Washington becomes commander-in-chief, colonial militiamen have already begun a siege of British-controlled Boston. The Siege of Boston lasts until March 17, 1776, when Washington’s fortifications force British troops to evacuate the city. More
On Christmas Day, Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River to surprise Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. At the Battle of Trenton the next day, the Continental Army wins its first major victory in the Revolutionary War. More
Washington leads the Continental Army to victory against British troops near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777. Washington’s back-to-back successes at the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton improve army morale and reassert colonists’ control in New Jersey after a series of losses in New York. More
During a six-month encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Washington and former Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben train the Continental Army into a more efficient fighting force. This proves to be a major turning point in the war.
On October 19, 1781, British General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Washington in Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Yorktown is the last major battle in the war, though the war formally ends on September 3, 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. More
George Washington's career highlights may be well-known, but the Commander-in-Chief also oversaw controversial and risky endeavors in the Revolutionary War. See below.
Fast Facts
Washington nearly lost the war at the Battle of Brooklyn
If it hadn't been for a strategic, middle-of-the-night retreat across New York's East River, the Continental Army could have lost the fight for independence as early as 1776.
George Washington, who died more than 200 years ago in 1799, left behind a legacy in the founding of America—and in his words. Washington did not seek out bloody battles, but his words show he understood the sacrifice required to establish a new democracy.
In Their Words
"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak and esteem to all."
Washington's instructions to Company Captains, July 29, 1757.
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."
Washington—in his First Annual Address to both Houses of Congress, January 8, 1790.
"Good God, what brave fellows I must lose!"
Washington as he watched Maryland soldiers in a desperate fight at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn on August 29, 1776. Their sacrifice allowed other soldiers time to flee.
Washington's Service by the Numbers
45
The total number of years George Washington dedicated to military service.
6
The highest rank in the U.S. military is ''General of the Armies of the United States," an equivalent of a 6-star rank. Only two men ever held this position: General John Jay Pershing and General George Washington. Washington was awarded the rank posthumously in 1976.
3
The number of major battle victories overseen by Washington. The surprisingly low number reveals how Washington was a master of overall strategy in the American Revolution, rather than dominance on the battlefield.
