Distant cousin of General George Washington, William Washington was born on February 28, 1752 to Bailey and Catherine Washington in Parish, Virginia. Raised by a Southern planter, Washington adhered to a gentleman’s code. He was educated with a religious guiding under the watchful eye of Reverend Mr. Stuart. He learned Greek and studied vast extents of theology with the aim of a career in ministry. But his aim took a turn when he took up arms against the British during the Revolution.
At the beginning of the war, Washington was elected a Captain of the Stafford County Minutemen in September of 1775, which was subsequently integrated within the 3rd Virginia Regiment in early 1776. The 3rd Virginia joined the main Continental Army in New York in summer of 1776. Fighting in the Mid-Atlantic, Captain Washington was present at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 as he led a victorious charge against Hessian artillery. Injured at Trenton, Washington was promoted from Captain to Major and given a fresh assignment to a newly created 4th Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons that he was to join after recovering.
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