George Washington

George Washington (1732-1799), the first President of the United States and the only one elected unanimously, stands tall in history as one of America’s greatest leaders. A Virginian gentleman and farmer, General Washington understood well both the sword and the plowshare. Although a common legend regarding his felling of a cherry tree is likely mere myth, Washington’s father did assure that his son received a fine education, which he leveraged into being a successful and utilitarian landowner. In the early 1750s, Washington entered British military service as the commander of a local militia. In the years leading up to the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War, he was instrumental in the strengthening of the British position due to effective diplomacy with Haudenosaunee chiefs, swift action, and efficient leadership. Washington was greatly admired by those who served under him, and was soon promoted to general. Never one to remain on the sidelines, he led the charge into action time and time again. During the Seven Years’ War, Washington survived many battles, even having a horse shot out from under him on two occasions. Washington was an active part of the dissent that culminated in the American Revolution in the 1770s. When the Continental Congress appointed him commander in chief of the Continental Army, Washington faced the great challenge of maintaining the morale and discipline of an irregular army that was outclassed by its British adversaries on most parameters. Famously, he led a surprise attack across the Delaware River against a Hessian garrison in Trenton, winning a key victory. When his army was struggling during the bitter winter at Valley Forge, Washington, along with the French Marquis de La Fayette and the Prussian Baron von Steuben, led it through adversity and emerged with a hardened force. Washington was also known for accepting large numbers of African-Americans into his army at a time when it was deemed highly irregular. Washington was known as a modest, unambitious man who readily deferred to peers with more expertise. Soon after his victory at Yorktown, peace negotiations ended the war in 1783 and Washington, wanting no part of public political life, retired to his estate in Virginia. He was soon recalled by popular demand and was elected to the presidency in 1789, where he played an instrumental role in establishing precedents such as term limits, modest decorum, and lenient justice. In 1797, he retired for good and lived out his days at Mt. Vernon, dying in 1799. In Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, George Washington is a charismatic and resourceful statesman. As leader of the land of opportunity, he uses a wide range of tactics and will not be easily outwitted. Whether through military might, raw economic output, or technological advancement, he will seize any advantage that he sees.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.