Washington's Inheritance

At the age of 11, Washington's father died, leaving him Ferry Farm, adjacent to Mount Vernon, near Alexandria, Virginia. His father left Mount Vernon to Washington's older half-brother Lawrence. When Lawrence died in 1752, George inherited Mount Vernon.

Purchases

Washington became a land surveyor when he was 17, and he immediately began to purchase land with his earnings. By the age of 21, he had bought 1,558 acres from his income. The most land he ever owned was 69,605 acres spread across the states of Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and (the future) Washington, D.C.

Mount Vernon

Washington increased the size of Mount Vernon from 3,000 acres to 9,200 acres by buying adjoining land as it became available.

Washington as a Farmer

When Washington was not serving as a soldier or as president, he worked as a farmer at Mount Vernon. Washington was a slave owner who grew tobacco and wheat among other crops.

Significance

Many of the Founding Fathers were farmers like Washington. They believed that the ownership of land was essential to a man's independence, and in the early decades of the United States, only male property owners were allowed to vote.

Source:

SFGate.com: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Land

George Washington: An American Life; Laurie Calkhoven; 2007

Mount Vernon: A Brief Biography of George Washington

Resource:

Virginia.edu: George Washington in Retirement