Augustine Washington

Augustine Washington
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Name	Augustine Washington
Caption	Posthumous portrait of Augustine Washington
Birth date	1694
Birth place	Westmoreland County, Virginia, British America
Death date	April 12, 1743 (aged 48–49)
Death place	Ferry Farm, Stafford County, Virginia, British America
Occupation	Planter, ironmaster, county official
Spouse	Jane Butler (m. 1715; died 1729), Mary Ball (m. 1731)
Children	11, including Lawrence, Augustine Washington Jr., and George Washington
Parents	Lawrence Washington, Mildred Gale

Augustine Washington was a prominent Virginia planter, ironmaster, and public official in early 18th-century British America. He is best known as the father of George Washington, the first President of the United States. His successful management of extensive agricultural and industrial enterprises provided the foundation for his family's rise within the colonial gentry of the Chesapeake Bay region.

Early life and family

Augustine Washington was born in 1694 at Wakefield on Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of Lawrence Washington and Mildred Gale, and a grandson of English immigrant John Washington, who had established the family in Virginia Colony. Following his father's death in 1698, young Augustine inherited a portion of the family's burgeoning estate, which included lands along Popes Creek and the Potomac River. He was educated in England, likely at the Appleby Grammar School in Westmorland, an experience common among sons of the Virginia gentry seeking refinement and business connections. This education prepared him to manage his inheritance and navigate the complex agricultural and mercantile systems of the British Empire.

Career and landholdings

Washington actively expanded his holdings, becoming a significant figure in the tobacco-based economy and emerging industrial ventures. He inherited and purchased thousands of acres across several counties, including tracts in Westmoreland, Stafford, and King George. His primary residence was initially at Popes Creek before moving to Little Hunting Creek, later known as Mount Vernon. In 1725, he co-founded the Principio Company, an ironworks near Accokeek Creek in Maryland, becoming deeply involved in the colonial iron industry and exporting pig iron to England. He also served as a justice of the peace for Westmoreland County and as a burgess in the House of Burgesses, representing the county in the colonial legislature. His business dealings required frequent travel and correspondence with merchants in London and Bristol.

Marriage and children

Augustine Washington married twice, fathering eleven children. His first marriage was to Jane Butler in 1715, with whom he had four children: Lawrence, Augustine Washington Jr., Jane, and a second daughter named Jane. Following Jane Butler's death in 1729, he married Mary Ball in 1731. Their children included George Washington, Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles, and Mildred. He provided his older sons, particularly Lawrence and Augustine Jr., with English educations and actively guided their early careers, while the younger children, including George Washington, were raised primarily at the family's Ferry Farm estate in Stafford County.

Death and legacy

Augustine Washington died suddenly on April 12, 1743, at Ferry Farm from a severe illness, possibly related to a storm caught during a ride to inspect his properties. His will divided his substantial estate among his heirs, with the Popes Creek lands going to Augustine Washington Jr. and the Little Hunting Creek plantation bequeathed to Lawrence, who later renamed it Mount Vernon. His widow, Mary Ball Washington, received a life interest in Ferry Farm, where she raised their younger children, including the future President of the United States. While not a towering historical figure in his own right, his acumen in land speculation, iron manufacturing, and social positioning within the Virginia gentry provided the critical economic foundation and social status that enabled his son George Washington to receive the education and opportunities that shaped his historic destiny during the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.

Category:1694 births Category:1743 deaths Category:People from Westmoreland County, Virginia Category:Washington family