George Washington was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. He served as commander-in-chief of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and later served as the first president of the United States. His thoughts and ideas helped mold the United States into the great country that it is today. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. He received no formal education, but he read geography, military history, agriculture, deportment, and composition. Washington later developed a powerful and convincing style of speech and writing. He enjoyed sports and social occasions, and he later became a surveyor for landowners on the Virginia frontier. George Washington was elected president of the United States in 1789, and in New York City on April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office as President of the United States at age 57. He was extremely influential in the initial operation of the new government. After the ballot he wrote, "My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feeling not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution." Washington's task was to organize a government but also create a role for the highest officer of the new nation. Both tasks earned him enemies. One of Washington's first duties of office was establishing a cabinet. He appointed Alexander Hamilton secretary of treasury and Thomas Jefferson secretary of state. Washington allowed Jefferson to pursue a policy of seeking trade with European nations. Hamilton proposed important ideas such as a funded national debt and the creation of the Bank of the United States. The first United States census was taken in 1790 which showed the population to be four million. He created departments within the government, each with different jobs. The government issued money that was good in all states.