The book His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph Ellis consists of a prelude and seven chapters. In the first two chapters, Ellis describes Washington’s early life and the beginning of his military career. George Washington was born to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Growing up on the Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia, Washington received little formal education and was raised largely by his older half-brother Lawrence, who served as a father because Washington’s father died when George was only 11. That is why the famous tale about Washington chopping down the cherry tree ("Father, I cannot tell a lie") is a complete fabrication.
Washington initially worked as a land surveyor
