Great General or Fortunate Figurehead? - Part 2

George Washington's first calling as a leader was within his own family. His father, Augustine, died when George was eleven. George had two half-brothers that were much older, but was the oldest of those children still at home in Fredericksburg, Virginia, at the time of his father's passing. Under the watchful eye of his mother, George became the "substitute father" to his younger brothers and sisters.

To cope with this pressure, he sought out his older half-brother, Lawrence, living at Mount Vernon. A leader in the Virginia militia, Lawrence Washington was a source of deep inspiration for George. He had been an officer in a British expedition against the Spanish West Indies and was later promoted to the rank of Adjutant General of Virginia, overseeing the training of the various militia groups throughout the colony. George observed his half-brother closely, soaking up everything he could learn.

Augustine Washington's death ended plans to send George to England for a formal education. But George did attend school briefly in Virginia. In fact, it was due to a school exercise that he penned his famous Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. Some of these rules are rather comical. "Kill no vermin as fleas, lice, ticks, etc. in the sight of others." Others are quite appropriate, even for today. "Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive." There is some disagreement over whether the Rules of Civility originated with Washington, but there is little doubt that they were an enormous influence in his life. They were, according to etiquette expert Letitia Baldridge, "the code of conduct that molded his character and helped him assume the leadership of the country."

Washington enthusiasts often claim that the beloved Father of our Country was without ambition. That he reluctantly accepted the roles placed upon him. This was certainly true when he was elected President. But it was not the case early in life. George Washington was incredibly ambitious, and these Rules of Civility were written to serve as the basis for his climbing the ladder of success.

Basic patterns of Washington's thinking in terms of human relations can be gleaned not only from the Rules of Civility, but also from many of the letters he authored over the course of his life. He encouraged respect for others, especially authority figures. He eschewed pride and arrogance. He emphasized decent manners and adherence to protocol and etiquette. And he embraced knowledge as the basis for credibility, and recommended being succinct as the best means to impart that knowledge. "[M]ake yourself perfectly master of the subject. Never exceed a decent warmth, and submit your sentiments with diffidence," he would write to his nephew, Bushrod Washington, later in life.

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