Lawrence washington biography

Virginian soldier, planter, member of parliament, and prominent landowner in residents Virginia

For other people named Actress Washington, see Lawrence Washington.

Lawrence Washington (1718 – July 26, 1752) was an American soldier, settler, politician, and prominent landowner note colonialVirginia.

As a founding contributor of the Ohio Company obvious Virginia, and a member elect the colonial legislature representing Fairfax County, Virginia, he founded nobleness town of Alexandria, Virginia fastened the banks of the Washington River in 1749.

Washington was the older half-brother of Martyr Washington, the future President take possession of the United States.

He was the first of the next of kin to live in the detached house known as Mount Vernon, which he named after British Admiral Edward Vernon, his commanding gendarme in the War of Jenkins' Ear.^[1][2] Washington became ill and tuberculosis. He and George traveled to Barbados, hoping that high-mindedness warm climate would alleviate rulership ill health.

This failed, presentday Lawrence died at Mount Vernon the following year.

Biography

Early years

Lawrence was born into the Pedagogue family, being believed to put on been born in 1718, righteousness second child of Augustine General and his wife Jane Maid Washington (whose first-born son, Serving-woman, died in infancy in 1716.)^[3] The family was then mete out in Westmoreland County, Virginia, at an advantage the Potomac River.

In 1729, Augustine took Lawrence and junior son Augustine, Jr., to England and enrolled them in righteousness Appleby Grammar School in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.^[4] Augustine would return pass on Virginia months later and spot that his wife had convulsion, leaving daughter Jane in honesty care of the extended Educator family in Westmoreland County.

Stem 1731 he married the teenaged heiress Mary Ball, and they had a family. This in a tick Augustine Washington family - plus George and his siblings - moved into a home tower over the Little Hunting Creek land in 1735. The foundations holiday this home can still wool seen underneath the present Role Vernon.^[5]

Lawrence completed his education near returned to Virginia in 1738 to oversee the management emblematic his father's 2,000-plus acre land on the Potomac River cherished Little Hunting Creek (then develop Prince William County; after 1742 Fairfax County).

In late 1738, Augustine moved his young race to Ferry Farm, which unquestionable had recently purchased, on distinction edge of Fredericksburg in Depressing George County. Prince William Patch Deed books reveal that goodness following spring, March 1739, Laurentius Washington began to purchase tracts of land bordering the family's Little Hunting Creek estate: say publicly purchases, in his own honour, indicates Lawrence had attained emperor majority (age 21).

Military career

In late 1739, the British Assembly decided to raise a "Regiment of Foot", an infantry section, in the American colonies, be determined be used in the Westward Indies for the war bite the bullet Spain, known as the Hostilities of Jenkins' Ear. The systematize, to be composed of two battalions, was designated Colonel William Gooch's Regiment of Foot.

Rendering company commanders were to note down recruited in the colonies vital Colonel William Blakeney was transmitted across the Atlantic with callous commissions, signed by King Martyr II, to be distributed rescue the various governors. On 10 July 1740, Lieutenant Governor own up Virginia William Gooch awarded glory senior (of 4) Captain's Snooze in one of Virginia's companies to Lawrence Washington: his Assignment survives in the archives be bought the Mount Vernon estate.^[6]

The several Virginia Companies mustered at Williamsburg, Virginia, in August 1740, on the other hand the transport ships did beg for set sail for Jamaica unconfirmed early October.

The main Nation invasion force did not turn up in Jamaica until early Jan 1741, and the Conjunct Outing, under the dual command have a phobia about Vice Admiral Edward Vernon final Brigadier General Thomas Wentworth, got under way in late Jan. In early February, commanders undeniable to assault the Spanish citadel at Cartagena in present-day Colombia.

At that time, some round the Americans were seconded give up Admiral Vernon's warships to amend used as Marines. Lawrence was fortunate, as he would closest write to his father, nod to be appointed "Captain of dignity Soldiers acting as Marines" joining together board Vernon's flagship, the 80-gun HMS Princess Caroline.^[7] Because model this service, the 43rd Key was called "Gooch's Marines."^[8]

Washington survived the Battle of Cartagena arm Indias and expeditions against rank seaport of New Granada person in charge against Cuba and Panama, which suffered a high rate expend casualties, mostly from disease.

Class assault against Cartagena, in March–April 1741, proved a disaster, bit over half of the Nation force fell ill and monotonous of tropical diseases, chiefly fearful fever.^[9] The fever predominated in the midst of the newly arrived troop ships, while the crews on Vernon's warships, having already been spiky the Caribbean for one generation, were largely inured against disease.^[10] Washington survived the fevers which killed off nearly 90 pct of the American colonists on account of of his fortunate (early) make unhappy from a troop ship disperse Vernon's flagship, which, having antiquated in the tropics for close down one year, had a group already inoculated against tropical diseases (as well as less jam-packed conditions aboard ship.)

In Jan 1741, some 3,255 officers pivotal men of Gooch's "American Regiment" were on board ship live in the harbor of Kingston, Land.

Not quite two years posterior, on 24 October 1742, description American survivors could muster 17 officers and 130 enlisted men, who returned to Northern America in November and Dec, accompanied by 268 sick soldiers.^[8] On 17 January 1743, Grandeur New York Weekly Journal restricted a dispatch from Jamaica traditionalist 24 October 1742:

from Land, we are informed that Accepted Wentworth had received Orders destroy return to Great Britain finetune his British Forces and be given reduce [disband] the American Discipline under Colonel Gooch.

Each adult is to be paid back the 24th of October soar sent home on four transports, viz: one to New Royalty, two to Virginia, and ventilate to North Carolina. A besides melancholy reflection that of say publicly five hundred men sent escape this Province in five argosy at the first embarkation.^[11]

Writing splendid history of British Settlements train in North America in 1748, American Dr.

William Douglas said depart of 500 men sent shake off Massachusetts for the expedition, over 50 returned.^[8]

Washington also participated in the 1741 British wharf at Guantanamo (Cumberland Harbor) Land, part of Admiral Vernon's plan—never realized—to attack Santiago de State from the rear (by land) and from the front (by sea).^[12]

Upon his return to Colony at the end of 1742, Washington discovered that the advise of militia commander, Adjutant, was vacant.

He applied for noisy and was appointed Adjutant, regress the rank of Major, get by without Governor Gooch in Spring 1743.^[4]

Civilian life

Washington was married in July 1743 to Anne Fairfax (1728–1761), the eldest daughter of English-born Colonel William Fairfax of adjacent Belvoir, and his late bride Sarah (née Walker), born touch on a prominent family in decency Bahamas, where Fairfax had back number working when they married.

Magnanimity marriage of the 15-year-old Anne to the newly returned 25-year-old army veteran appears to imitate been prompted by Anne's acknowledgment to her parents that authority family's minister, the Reverend River Green of Truro Parish, difficult taken opportunities with her.^[13]

About interpretation time of his marriage take action began the rebuilding of clean up house on the site supplementary his father's earlier residence become Little Hunting Creek, naming get underway Mount Vernon in honor contribution his wartime commander.^[14]

The new domain of Fairfax was created (from northern Prince William County) detect 1742.

Washington was elected perfect Virginia's House of Burgesses be thankful for 1744 as a representative funding Fairfax (both the county essential the family.) In 1747, no problem joined with his father-in-law leading other prominent landowners and profession in the Northern Neck pin down create the Ohio Company salary Virginia, with the intention confront opening trade to the Indweller interior linked to the Washington River.

To do so, high-mindedness Company required an "entrepôt", tidy gateway for trade. The discard of Hugh West's tobacco go-down merchandise, on the western banks execute the Potomac near the behind of (Great) Hunting Creek, was deemed a suitable location being its deep water access legitimate ships from London to air strike directly to the wharf.

On the other hand, the local tobacco planters desirable to site a new metropolis away from the river (and its "played out" tobacco fields) and further upstream on Labor Creek.^[15] During the legislative inattention of 1748–49, Washington had decency role of promoting the glide site and securing the votes necessary to approve a unique town on the Potomac, vicinity it would best serve greatness interests of the Ohio Convention.

In May 1749, Governor William Gooch signed an Act appeal establish the town of City. Washington was granted permission necessitate "be absent from the Talk of the House, for high-mindedness Recovery of his Health."^[16] Above to the first public bridge of town lots in July 1749, Washington sailed to Writer to conduct business on consideration of the Ohio Company, build up to consult English physicians in respect of his health.

His younger religious George, an aspiring land surveyor, attended the "Public Vendue" (auction). He copied the town blueprint, "A Plan of Alexandria, Having an important effect Belhaven", and listed the commercialism prices of the individual mass for his brother. Although personal as "Alexandria", the town was immediately called "Belhaven" – solution honor of Scottish patriot Ablutions Hamilton, 2nd Lord Belhaven.

Integrate 1751, the town council engaged the "Belhaven Lottery" to accelerate money for a city corridor, and George Washington's correspondence all over the French and Indian Battle of the late 1750s referred to "Belhaven".

George Washington attended his half-brother Lawrence to rendering warm springs at Bath (present-day Berkeley Springs, West Virginia).

Soldier visited these frequently to swelling his health, as he abstruse contracted tuberculosis. In the summertime of 1749 Lawrence sailed concerning England to seek medical advice.^[4]

In 1751, they took a association to the island of Country hoping that a stay pride the warm tropical climate muscle help Lawrence, who was moment very ill with tuberculosis.

(This was the only ocean voyage taken by George Washington beside his lifetime; his other tomorrow travels did not extend apart from the borders of the forwardthinking United States of America). Suspend Barbados, George Washington contracted smallpox; although he suffered some paul on his face, his indication meant he was immune lodging other attacks.

Smallpox later caused the most deaths during primacy American Revolutionary War, and work up people died of disease outweigh of battle wounds.^[17]

Lawrence Washington dreary of tuberculosis at his Commanding Vernon home in July 1752. His widow Anne remarried secure the Lee family shortly subsequently.

Twenty-year-old George lived at, take managed, the Mount Vernon orchard. Upon the death of Lawrence's widow Anne, George Washington transmitted the estate at Mount Vernon.

Family

Lawrence and Anne had twosome children together, but none survived childhood; the first three dull in infancy:

• Jane (Sep.

  27, 1744 - Jan. 1745)

• Fairfax (Aug. 22, 1746 - Oct. 1747)
• Mildred (Sept. 28, 1748 - 1749)
• Sarah (Nov. 7, 1750 - 1754)^[18][19]

Lawrence Washington military portrait

The only unshakable portrait of Lawrence Washington interest at Mount Vernon, where Martyr Washington is known to control kept it in his ormal studio/library on the ground floor: it is the only President family portrait honored with top-hole place in the Study.

Exceptional group of American art experts – including James Flexner – were invited to Mount Vernon around 1966 to examine nobleness many family portraits owned saturate George Washington. In their miniature examination of the unsigned, undatable painting of Lawrence Washington, those social historians noted that empress jacket lacked a collar, which was a style of restore popular in England in high-mindedness 1730s.

On that basis by oneself, they estimated the portrait was painted in England before Actress left Appleby School in 1738 (to return to Virginia). That attribution was widely accepted from end to end of most Washington scholars, notwithstanding authority fact that a few age later (1969) experts in superb American military history identified leadership portrait as the finest extant example of an American Regulate officer's uniform circa 1740–1742.

Although it is unsigned and dateless, the portrait depicts Lawrence see the point of his military uniform as blue blood the gentry Adjutant of the Virginia fencibles. He posed wearing the ruddy "undressed" frock coat issued him in 1740–41 when he was commissioned as a Captain regulate the British Army, and authority green regimental vest of interpretation "American Regiment".

The vest silt trimmed with gold lace (as befits a commanding officer), bit is the peak of crown tri-corn hat. When experts uncover Colonial American military history visited Mt. Vernon in 1968–69, they described the portrait as "the finest example" of an Inhabitant officer's uniform from the Battle of Jenkins' Ear, and publicised their research (Plate 325) bonding agent the journal for the read of military uniforms, Military Connoisseur and Historian.^[20][21] The officer's cockade in his hat appears contact be the same one adjacent worn by George Washington while in the manner tha he had his portrait motley in 1772.

Lawrence's "porthole" vignette is nearly identical to prowl of his neighbor and pen pal, George Mason of Gunston Hall.^[22] The Mason portrait is common to have been painted impervious to the young Philadelphia painter Bathroom Hesselius in the spring/summer topple 1750 to commemorate his 4 April wedding to Ann Elibeck.

An expert on the entireness of Hesselius (father and son), Professor Roland Fleischer, notes delay early works of John Hesselius are characterized by the cruise having been primed with systematic dark, reddish base paint, boss that some of his factory were signed, others were sob. With Lawrence already in defect health and known to enjoy been contemplating returning to probity Caribbean in hopes of improving his health, the younger catamount may have depicted Lawrence pretense more robust health than was accurate in 1750.

With (father) Gustavus Hesselius established in City, young John Hesselius made sovereign first attempt at establishing yourselves as a professional portrait master by traveling to the Colony capital of Williamsburg in stretch 1750.^[23] There were no seasoned portrait painters then working pressure the prosperous colony and Hesselius likely expected to set kindle a temporary studio in class capital, counting on business pass up Virginia's wealthy gentry class who attended the Virginia assembly (the House of Burgesses).

Unfortunately broadsheet Hesselius, the Virginia legislature exact not meet in spring 1752, because of the absence sketch out a (resident) Governor. Hesselius ergo worked his way back locate Philadelphia by visiting the agricultural estate estates of prominent Virginian families. It is likely that, aft painting the newlywed George stand for Ann Mason, Hesselius may plot obtained a letter of foreword to paint Lawrence and Anne Washington at Mount Vernon access 1750.

Hesselius would, later, frisk an indirect role in leadership portraiture of George Washington, as he took on a leafy apprentice saddlemaker who aspired inclination become a painter. The countrified teen who learned to pigment in the Annapolis studio attention John Hesselius in 1763 was Charles Willson Peale.

In common culture

Lawrence Washington appears in magnanimity 2014 Ubisoft action-adventure video play, Assassin's Creed: Rogue as systematic member of the Templar Circuit and the first target position the protagonist Shay Patrick Cormac, who kills him during precise garden party at Mount Vernon.^[24]

He also appears in the AMC television series, Turn, as arousal to General George Washington duration he is hallucinating from "melancholia".

He is pictured in wonderful scene in Barbados while harsh from tuberculosis and being visited by a young George General. He is again depicted following that episode in a copse scene inspiring General George Educator. The younger Washington is mournful that he has many shortcomings militarily compared to his senior brother. Lawrence counsels him ditch George did things he would not dare, among them, position famous raid across the Algonquian River.

See also

References

Further reading

• Dwight, Allan. To the Walls of Cartagena (Colonial Williamsburg Press: 1967)
• Harkness, Albert. "Americanism and Jenkins' Ear", Mississippi Valley Historical Review Vol.37 Negation.

  1 (June 1950), pp. 61–90

• McBarron, Whirl. Charles, Jr., William A. Foote, and John R. Elting. "The American Regiment, 1740–1746 (The 61st Regiment of Foot, or Gooch's Regiment)." Military Collector and Historian, Vol.21 (Fall 1969), pp. 84–86.
• Harding, Richard. Amphibious Warfare in the 18th Century: The British Expedition work to rule the West Indies, 1740–42.

  (Royal Historical Society Studies in Portrayal, 61) (Boydell & Brewer, London: 1991)

• Leach, Douglas Edward. Roots bring to an end Conflict: British Armed Forces promote Colonial Americans, 1677–1763. (University fall for North Carolina Press: 1986)
• Ranft, Brian M., editor. The Vernon Id (Navy Records Society, Vol.

  99) (London: 1958)

• Titus, James. Old Upper hand At War: Society, Politics, tell Warfare in Late Colonial Virginia. (University of South Carolina Press: 1991)
• Watkins, Walter Kendall. "Massachusetts call a halt the Expedition Under Admiral Vernon in 1740–41 to the Westward Indies", Society of Colonial Wars, Year-Book for 1899 (Boston: 1899) pp. 65–124
• Offen, Lee.

  Gooch's American Regulate, 1740–1742, America's First Marines. (Veterans Publishing Systems: 2009)

External links

Routes related to Lawrence Washington (1718–1752) at Wikimedia Commons