Edward G. Lengel
First Entrepreneur: How George Washington Built His—and the Nation’s—Prosperity
Published by Da Capo
Feb 08, 2016 Web Exclusive
Edward G. Lengel is a military historian, professor at University of Virginia, and the director of the Papers of George Washington, a comprehensive project that collects and publishes Washington documents and correspondences. With First Entrepreneur, Lengel presents Washington’s genius from a different angle, as an entrepreneur who strategically built both his own personal and familial wealth and the economy of a burgeoning nation. The story encompasses the entirety of Washington’s life, from birth until death. It discusses how he both solidified his wealth through marriage as well as with forward-thinking strategies on agriculture and land acquisition and use.
It is interesting how Washington’s Revolutionary War-time views were first to sanction economically instead of to use military action. Washington was a reluctant military leader, and this is borne out in his wartime ideology. Lengel’s picture of Washington as the nation’s first president, as it related to building a US economy and negotiating both foreign trade and national debit is illuminating. Comparing Washington’s day with today’s quasi-plutocracy, it is interesting how little has changed. Rather, things have snowballed. The difference being that Washington envisioned a nation where all had the chance, with equitable means, to bring themselves up with hard work. Today, this ideology represents nothing but a pipe dream, an illusory trope wheeled out by politicians looking to both deflect blame and espouse an “up by your bootstraps” ideology that is no longer practical reality for most. (www.dacapopress.com)
Author rating: 6.5/10
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October 13th 2018
7:50am
For my purposes, this is one of the best biographies I’ve read. Almost a page turner. Doesn’t flood you with details, but has sources like wealth management firms if you want more detail. I could nitpick that he mentions the French entering the War in the spring of 1778 without mentioning it was the fall 1777 Battle of Saratoga which convinced the French that the colonists had a chance, probably because Washington had nothing to do with that battle. But I suspect that even if you know only the barest minimum of the times, this won’t matter.
October 29th 2018
8:40am
I’ve never read any other George Washington biography, and perhaps that is why this one seems so good, and maybe this would be a great introductory biography. I had thought of George Washington as just your typical stuffed shirt elite gentleman farmer, and this book changed that view. He was a fascinating character, always exploring new and innovative ways to make his farm better, and inspiring wealth preservation tulsa to this day. Regardless of what you think about innovations in 18th century agriculture and husbandry, the book’s analysis of how Washington’s business career influenced his capabilities and perspectives as a political and military leader are indispensable.