Last Lecture
*coughing* Thank you for joining me on this chilly evening of December 13, 1799. Please excuse my hoarse throat and cough, for I seem to have a cold. You see, I spent most of yesterday’s snowstorm out on my horse inspecting the farm. When I awoke this morning I felt incredibly ill with a severe sore throat.
That is why I’m here today. I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot in my life, and I feel that it is my responsibility to pass on some of that knowledge. Just in case my time on Earth may soon come to an end.
We’ll begin on February 22, 1732. On this day, Mary Ball Washington gave birth to her first son at her home on Pope’s Creek, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. This son was me, George Washington.
“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
When I was 16 years old, I took it upon myself to read and copy down the Rules of Civility. Originally from France, this collection of proverbs and maxims was responsible for teaching me good social virtues and influencing my character. As a teen, I remember people often commenting on my good character. I suppose I have the Rules of Civility and my parents to thank for that.
There have been multiple instances in my life where I have been handed a large responsibility that I did not ask for. Nevertheless, I have continuously accepted these challenges. In your life, things will be thrown at you that you are not prepared for, that you don’t want. You must make the best of every situation. The first came in 1743 when I was a mere 11-year old. That year my father Augustine passed away. This, of course, was something that I never would have asked for but had to accept nonetheless. From that point on, my beloved, half-brother Lawrence became my guardian and mentor. At age 34, Lawrence died of tuberculosis. I was only 20.
I tell you this, friends, not so that you can feel sorry for me, but so that you will hear the advice in my words when I say “Keep fighting.”
Lawrence’s death left me in charge of caring for his Mount Vernon estate. This was a big responsibility. Also around this time, I was assigned as major in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War.
In 1753, I successfully completed the life-threatening task of carrying a British message to the French in the Ohio River Valley. In the years to follow I served as a colonel in the war. At age 23 I was given command of the entire Virginia regiment. “Remember that it is the actions, and not the commission, that make the officer, and that there is more expected from him, than the title.” Hear me when I tell you that what a man does in his life is far more valuable than what he says. I have often stated, “Deeds, not words.”
My leadership during the French and Indian War was a rather frustrating time! The recruits I got were poorly trained, decisions were made slowly, and the Virginia colonial legislature was not willing to give me support. But I can say that these experiences definitely matured me as a soldier and a person. Perseverance was the key.
I eventually retired from the army, and in 1759 I was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. This same year, Martha Dandridge Custis and I were married. Martha was a wealthy woman, and she brought with her, two children from her previous marriage. Their names were John and Martha, but we referred to them as Jacky and Patsy. My affection for these children ran deep.
Just before the American Revolution, dear Patsy died, breaking my heart into pieces. Jacky passed away during the revolution, leaving Martha and I to take care of his two children.
But I’m getting ahead of myself! Before the Revolution, I entered politics and opposed the policies of Great Britain. Many of them personally affected me. During my time as an officer in the French and Indian War, I had been discriminated against as a colonial officer. British commanders received better treatment and pay. Great Britain also restricted my plans for westward land speculation when the Proclamation of 1763 was enacted. I didn’t like the Stamp Act either. And to add to the list, I was constantly in debt to my London agents because I was a planter. Some people may ask how America could start a war with Great Britain that ended so many lives, but what I can offer in reply is, “Desperate diseases require desperate remedies.”
I was a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress. On June 15, 1775 I was chosen to be the commander of the Continental Army. This was not a position I sought, but as I said earlier, it was one of those situations that I had to accept and make the best of. For that reason I asked not to be paid. My actions had a soul purpose: “For God, and My Country”.
As the commander-in-chief, I did not lack any courage or determination. I hope that in your own lives, you will always stand up for what you believe to be right. There are many, many details of war that I could share with you, but since I am feeling under the weather and clearly need a good night’s rest, I will attempt to keep it brief. *cough*
There is one particular battle of the war that I feel is imperative for you to know about. Although the winter at Valley Forge was not a true battle, any soldier that lived through it would assure you that it was as hard-fought as any other. Again, I stress to you the value of perseverance. That 6-month period was brutally cold. The troops were hungry. They were not well-clothed. Diseases spread and killed in great numbers. But through it all, I did my best to rally my men. Together, those who stayed hung on, and if we had not, the entire fate of our country would have been changed. "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."
During the war, I learned other key lessons as well. Not every battle is a victory. I personally led my army to defeat at the Battle of Brandywine. In addition to this, the war taught me to accept the advice of officers with more experience than myself. One of my own greatest moments came when I led a surprise attack on the British at Trenton, New Jersey. We crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night, catching our enemies off guard and easily defeating them.
The last battle of the Revolution also brought great fame for me. Not that I would ever have asked for it. At the Battle of Yorktown, the French Navy and my own troops trapped General Cornwallis in a siege. This battle ended the American Revolution, and taught us as a country the valuable lesson of believing in ourselves. From the beginning, the British army had had greater numbers, better training, and more supplies. And yet our rag-tag band of colonists stood firm in our belief that we could win our independence and be free. Now look how that turned out for us.
By December 1783, I had resigned from my military position and returned to Mount Vernon. My childhood dream of being a gentleman farmer could be fulfilled, and I devoted my time to tending to the Mount Vernon plantation.
My dreams, however, were interrupted in 1787 when I was again called to duty. It had been clear after our gained independence that the nation was struggling under the Articles of Confederation. We were not united. I was chosen as the president of the Constitutional Convention. Here, we came up with a better plan for the nation’s government.
It was in 1789 that I was elected as the first President of the United States. It was still my desire to retire to my Mount Vernon estate, but the country thought otherwise. I was elected by unanimous approval. This was another instance where I was handed a large responsibility that I had not asked for, yet I felt compelled to accept the challenge and make the best of it.
As the first president, I knew that I would be setting the standards for all who would follow me, so I had to do it right. I believe that “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
Some have said that I “exercised power with restraint and honesty”, which I so hope to be true. If there is one piece of advice that I could pass down to future generations, it would be this: Stay honest no matter what. "My nature is open and honest and free from guile", because "What can be so proper as the truth?"
The truth is, I chose to be a citizen over a king. Keeping in mind that my presidency would set the precedent for those to follow, I rejected a third term. As I was growing older and weaker with age, it was my desire to simply return to my Mount Vernon home and my farming. I felt that I had left the government in good hands and on a successful course.
About 3 years ago, I recited a Farewell Address to the nation. In this speech, I advised the country to avoid foreign alliances and political parties, and to preserve the union. In my lifetime I have seen 13 colonies under British rule become one united nation. And let me tell you, friends, what a pleasure that has been. *cough* I must now retire to bed. *cough, cough* “‘Tis well.”
That is why I’m here today. I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot in my life, and I feel that it is my responsibility to pass on some of that knowledge. Just in case my time on Earth may soon come to an end.
We’ll begin on February 22, 1732. On this day, Mary Ball Washington gave birth to her first son at her home on Pope’s Creek, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. This son was me, George Washington.
“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
When I was 16 years old, I took it upon myself to read and copy down the Rules of Civility. Originally from France, this collection of proverbs and maxims was responsible for teaching me good social virtues and influencing my character. As a teen, I remember people often commenting on my good character. I suppose I have the Rules of Civility and my parents to thank for that.
There have been multiple instances in my life where I have been handed a large responsibility that I did not ask for. Nevertheless, I have continuously accepted these challenges. In your life, things will be thrown at you that you are not prepared for, that you don’t want. You must make the best of every situation. The first came in 1743 when I was a mere 11-year old. That year my father Augustine passed away. This, of course, was something that I never would have asked for but had to accept nonetheless. From that point on, my beloved, half-brother Lawrence became my guardian and mentor. At age 34, Lawrence died of tuberculosis. I was only 20.
I tell you this, friends, not so that you can feel sorry for me, but so that you will hear the advice in my words when I say “Keep fighting.”
Lawrence’s death left me in charge of caring for his Mount Vernon estate. This was a big responsibility. Also around this time, I was assigned as major in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War.
In 1753, I successfully completed the life-threatening task of carrying a British message to the French in the Ohio River Valley. In the years to follow I served as a colonel in the war. At age 23 I was given command of the entire Virginia regiment. “Remember that it is the actions, and not the commission, that make the officer, and that there is more expected from him, than the title.” Hear me when I tell you that what a man does in his life is far more valuable than what he says. I have often stated, “Deeds, not words.”
My leadership during the French and Indian War was a rather frustrating time! The recruits I got were poorly trained, decisions were made slowly, and the Virginia colonial legislature was not willing to give me support. But I can say that these experiences definitely matured me as a soldier and a person. Perseverance was the key.
I eventually retired from the army, and in 1759 I was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. This same year, Martha Dandridge Custis and I were married. Martha was a wealthy woman, and she brought with her, two children from her previous marriage. Their names were John and Martha, but we referred to them as Jacky and Patsy. My affection for these children ran deep.
Just before the American Revolution, dear Patsy died, breaking my heart into pieces. Jacky passed away during the revolution, leaving Martha and I to take care of his two children.
But I’m getting ahead of myself! Before the Revolution, I entered politics and opposed the policies of Great Britain. Many of them personally affected me. During my time as an officer in the French and Indian War, I had been discriminated against as a colonial officer. British commanders received better treatment and pay. Great Britain also restricted my plans for westward land speculation when the Proclamation of 1763 was enacted. I didn’t like the Stamp Act either. And to add to the list, I was constantly in debt to my London agents because I was a planter. Some people may ask how America could start a war with Great Britain that ended so many lives, but what I can offer in reply is, “Desperate diseases require desperate remedies.”
I was a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress. On June 15, 1775 I was chosen to be the commander of the Continental Army. This was not a position I sought, but as I said earlier, it was one of those situations that I had to accept and make the best of. For that reason I asked not to be paid. My actions had a soul purpose: “For God, and My Country”.
As the commander-in-chief, I did not lack any courage or determination. I hope that in your own lives, you will always stand up for what you believe to be right. There are many, many details of war that I could share with you, but since I am feeling under the weather and clearly need a good night’s rest, I will attempt to keep it brief. *cough*
There is one particular battle of the war that I feel is imperative for you to know about. Although the winter at Valley Forge was not a true battle, any soldier that lived through it would assure you that it was as hard-fought as any other. Again, I stress to you the value of perseverance. That 6-month period was brutally cold. The troops were hungry. They were not well-clothed. Diseases spread and killed in great numbers. But through it all, I did my best to rally my men. Together, those who stayed hung on, and if we had not, the entire fate of our country would have been changed. "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."
During the war, I learned other key lessons as well. Not every battle is a victory. I personally led my army to defeat at the Battle of Brandywine. In addition to this, the war taught me to accept the advice of officers with more experience than myself. One of my own greatest moments came when I led a surprise attack on the British at Trenton, New Jersey. We crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night, catching our enemies off guard and easily defeating them.
The last battle of the Revolution also brought great fame for me. Not that I would ever have asked for it. At the Battle of Yorktown, the French Navy and my own troops trapped General Cornwallis in a siege. This battle ended the American Revolution, and taught us as a country the valuable lesson of believing in ourselves. From the beginning, the British army had had greater numbers, better training, and more supplies. And yet our rag-tag band of colonists stood firm in our belief that we could win our independence and be free. Now look how that turned out for us.
By December 1783, I had resigned from my military position and returned to Mount Vernon. My childhood dream of being a gentleman farmer could be fulfilled, and I devoted my time to tending to the Mount Vernon plantation.
My dreams, however, were interrupted in 1787 when I was again called to duty. It had been clear after our gained independence that the nation was struggling under the Articles of Confederation. We were not united. I was chosen as the president of the Constitutional Convention. Here, we came up with a better plan for the nation’s government.
It was in 1789 that I was elected as the first President of the United States. It was still my desire to retire to my Mount Vernon estate, but the country thought otherwise. I was elected by unanimous approval. This was another instance where I was handed a large responsibility that I had not asked for, yet I felt compelled to accept the challenge and make the best of it.
As the first president, I knew that I would be setting the standards for all who would follow me, so I had to do it right. I believe that “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
Some have said that I “exercised power with restraint and honesty”, which I so hope to be true. If there is one piece of advice that I could pass down to future generations, it would be this: Stay honest no matter what. "My nature is open and honest and free from guile", because "What can be so proper as the truth?"
The truth is, I chose to be a citizen over a king. Keeping in mind that my presidency would set the precedent for those to follow, I rejected a third term. As I was growing older and weaker with age, it was my desire to simply return to my Mount Vernon home and my farming. I felt that I had left the government in good hands and on a successful course.
About 3 years ago, I recited a Farewell Address to the nation. In this speech, I advised the country to avoid foreign alliances and political parties, and to preserve the union. In my lifetime I have seen 13 colonies under British rule become one united nation. And let me tell you, friends, what a pleasure that has been. *cough* I must now retire to bed. *cough, cough* “‘Tis well.”