I like reading original diaries, speeches and correspondence of important historical figures and most recently am reading George Washington's writings.
Washington was of humble birth, was largely self educated, and became a surveyor as a teenager. He was also heavily involved in Indian warfare of the colonial era, notably the French and Indian War. He was in the thick of combat and was a greatly respected commander. War in colonial North America was savage and merciless, involving scalping, gruesome torture, roasting captives alive, etc.
Washington fought in some very harsh battles in this environment. Notwithstanding all of the hard combat in which Washington participated, he was not warped by these brutal experiences. During the conduct of the Revolutionary war against Great Britain, Washington provided humane treatment for POW's and refused to allow his troops to loot and "forage" from civilians. (Similarly, Genl. Robert E. Lee ordered his men to respect private property when his Army of Virginia advanced into Pennsylvania).
Genl. Washington was unanimously elected as Commander in Chief by the Continental Congress, unanimously elected as President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States twice. No other American has ever come close to this record. Notwithstanding his success as a military commander and his leadership, he was always polite and courteous and he emphasized civility.
A brief example of Washington's character and the esteem in which he was held by his contemporaries may be seen in the following brief excerpt from Madison's Notes on the Debates, a written account of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which describes the very first order of business of the convention....electing General Washington as its President. Notice Madison's summary of Washington's acceptance speech at the end. It was brief, polite, and dignified.
"Mr. ROBERT MORRIS informed the members assembled that by the instruction & in behalf, of the deputation of Pena. he proposed George Washington Esqr. late Commander in chief for president of the Convention.
"Mr. No. RUTLIDGE seconded the motion; expressing his confidence that the choice would be unanimous, and observing that the presence of Genl. Washington forbade any observations on the occasion which might otherwise be proper.
"General WASHINGTON was accordingly unanimously elected by ballot, and conducted to the Chair by Mr. R. Morris and Mr. Rutlidge; from which in a very emphatic manner he thanked the Convention for the honor they had conferred on him, reminded them of the novelty of the scene of business in which he was to act, lamented his want of better qualifications, and claimed the indulgence of the House towards the involuntary errors which his inexperience might occasion. "
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