President: George Washington

Wife: Martha Dandridge Custis (1732-1802), on January 6, 1759

Kids: John "Jack" Parke Custis (adopted) and Martha "Patsy" Custis (adopted)

Pets: Polly the parrot; 36 hounds; horses

Bio: George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States. He was born on a farm in Virginia on Feb. 11, 1731. He had very little formal education. In 1751, he traveled to Barbados where he contracted the dangerous smallpox. Thankfully he survived, but lasting marks were left on his face.

In the early 1750's, Washington had his first taste of war. Britain and France were arguing over who would occupy the upper Ohio Valley. Virginia's governor put Washington in command of an expedition to Fort Necessity. On May 28, 1754, he and his men killed nine French military men. This started the French and Indian War! Soon, Washington was appointed as a colonel in the British army, commanding Virginia's troops.

On Jan. 6, 1759, after retiring from the military, he married the widow Martha Dandridge, whose estate included 15,000 acres and 150 slaves. After becoming frustrated with Britain's overwhelming taxes on his and other colonists' businesses, he helped form the Continental Congress, which created a new government to resist British rule. On June 15, 1775 Washington was unanimously elected general and commander in chief.

Washington became a hero throughout the Revolutionary War. After many defeats it seemed the colonies would surely lose the war, but Washington crossed the elaware on Christmas Day 1776, surprising Britain's troops and capturing 1,000 prisoners. This gave new life to the war effort. In 1781, with the help of the French military, Washington's army trapped British General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., which led to colonies' victory.