# Did George Washington inherit any military titles from his older half-brother Lawrence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213 "2013-08-03T01:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/1 "2013-08-03T01:54:58Z")
Did George Washington inherit any military titles from his older half-brother Lawrence? Hi, I hope someone can answer this the following questions for me. Did George Washington inherit any military titles from his older half-brother Lawrence? Was inheriting military titles common in colonial America? If so, when did that tradition end? I look forward to your feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/2 "2013-08-03T02:18:40Z")
Short answer: no. While George did inherit from Lawrence, he worked his way up in the army to get his own military titles. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/3 "2013-08-03T21:23:12Z")
May I inquire as to why you are asking? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/4 "2013-08-04T01:19:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > May I inquire as to why you are asking? Writing a big exposé? I have some dirt: George Washington was not born a US citizen! :eek: I am ashamed to say, I’ve never heard of his brother, but now I have. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/5 "2013-08-04T02:46:58Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Writing a big exposé? I have some dirt: George Washington was not born a US citizen! I think it’s long overdue that Washington address the West Ford question. He’s not giving us answers because he’d dead? How convenient. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/6 "2013-08-04T02:52:35Z")
I’ve often wondered when his family came to America. I’m sure genealogists have researched his family tree. Documentaries I’ve seen said his father was wealthy. But somehow they lost much of their wealth. George spent much of his early adult life getting back up the social ladder. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/7 "2013-08-04T03:16:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve often wondered when his family came to America. I’m sure genealogists have researched his family tree. From wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Washington’s ancestors were from Sulgrave, England; his great-grandfather, John Washington, had emigrated to Virginia in 1657.[9] ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/8 "2013-08-04T03:27:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve often wondered when his family came to America. I’m sure genealogists have researched his family tree. > > Documentaries I’ve seen said his father was wealthy. But somehow they lost much of their wealth. George spent much of his early adult life getting back up the social ladder. On the Washington side, his great grandfather John came in 1656. Also, one, Augustus Warner, who was an ancestor of Washington, Robert E. Lee, and Merriweather Lewis, came in 1628. There was also Nicolas Martiau, a Huguenot, who came to Virginia in 1621. And young George Washington wasn’t particularly poor. His father had three farms, so his three eldest sons inherited a farm. Laurence inherited Little Hunting Creek, which he renamed Mt. Vernon, Augustine inherited Pope’s Creek, and George inherited Ferry Farm. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/9 "2013-08-04T04:30:20Z")
I found the following references online to G. Washington’s taking over his deceased brother’s duties. I look forward to your comments. Thanks. davidmich > **[GEORGE WASHINGTON](http://solarnavigator.net/history/george_washington.htm)** > > www.solarnavigator.net - George Washington, the United States America, Thomas Jefferson famous American politicians. “After Lawrence’s death (1752), George inherited part of his estate and took over some of Lawrence’s duties as adjutant of the colony. As district adjutant, which made (December 1752) him Major Washington at the age of 20, he was charged with training the militia in the quarter assigned him. In Fredricksburg, also at the age of 20, Washington joined the Freemasons, a fraternal organization that became a lifelong influence.” > **[George Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_President)** > > George Washington (February 22, 1732\[c\] – December 14, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War and served as president of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which created and ratified the Constitution of the United States and the Americ... “Lawrence’s position as Adjutant General (militia leader) of Virginia was divided into four offices after his death. Washington was appointed by Governor Dinwiddie as one of the four district adjutants in February 1753, with the rank of major in the Virginia militia.[22] Washington also joined the Freemasons fraternal association in Fredericksburg at this time.[23]” [http://www.free-essays.us/dbase/b9/wur216.shtml](http://www.free-essays.us/dbase/b9/wur216.shtml) "When his half-brother Lawrence died in 1752 George inherited the beautiful estate of Mount Vernon, one of six farms held by his family. Lawrence had held the position of adjutant in the colonial army; a full-time salary paid position, carrying the rank of major. After his brothers death only at the age of twenty Washington felt he could handle the job and Governor Robert Dinwiddie soon appointed him adjutant of the southern district of Virginia. During the Seven years war Washington found out that Britain was sending over less-experienced officers that would have higher ranking over him. He found this intolerable and in 1754 Washington resigned. " ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/10 "2013-08-04T04:59:23Z")
What’s your point? I assuem you have some point here. You seem to be posting this with some point in mind, but i can’t figure out what it is. You never seem to respond to what others post, so what is the point of any of us posting? Perhaps you could enlighten us. I look forward to your comments. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/11 "2013-08-04T05:13:53Z")
Plus, “inherit” means that one receives something automatically, by operation of law, on the death of someone else. That’s not what happened in any of the examples given above - he was appointed to certain positions by the relevant official. That’s not an inheritance. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/12 "2013-08-04T05:44:39Z")
My interpretation is George was given first consideration for appointments to positions previously held by his brother Lawrence. It’s not an outright inheritance, but they weren’t exactly handing out these appointments to just anyone. George benefited from his birthrights. Just like he was a member of the Gentry by birthright. Many of the old rules from England were still followed in the colonies. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/13 "2013-08-04T05:52:50Z")
Thanks for your feedback. My interest is in trying to establish if there was any inheritance of military title involved here, or was GEORGE WASHINGTON assuming the duties/some of the military duties his brother once held based on strictly on merit. Was there at any time a tradition of actually inheriting military titles/ranks in early colonial times? If so, when did that tradition end. The feedback on this forum seems to be that Washington did not inherit his title but earned it. Would that be correct? Thank you for your feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/14 "2013-08-04T06:03:12Z")
Thanks aceplace57. “George benefited from his birthrights.” I think that is more likely the case but I don’t doubt that he was awarded a military rank (Adjutant General?..not sure) for merit as well. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/15 "2013-08-04T06:44:03Z")
It’s surprising that Washington’s military career survived [The Battle of Fort Necessity](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Necessity). A lot of mistakes were made by everyone involved. Washington learned some important lessons the hard way. His reputation as a hero at the [The Battle of the Monongahela](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Monongahela) certainly helped with his appointment commanding the revolutionary forces. Washington knew British tactics and had battle experience in the French & Indian War. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/16 "2013-08-04T07:35:17Z")
Thanks aceplace57. Now to my other part of my question regarding hereditary military titles (if there was such as thing). I need to clear up something I either read or heard about inheriting military ranks/titles. Did it ever happen? Was it a British convention? I’ve been trying to get an answer to this question for some time but can’t come up with anything. I’d appreciate your feedback on that. If any other commenter have some information regarding this I look forward to your feedback. Thanks. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/17 "2013-08-04T15:08:45Z")
In colonial Virginia, the Adjutant General, who had overall control over the entire militia and was a member of the governor’s cabinet, was appointed by the Governor, as were the County Lieutenants, who had the rank of Colonel, and were responsible for organizing the militia in their county. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-washington-inherit-any-military-titles-from-his-older-half-brother-lawrence/665213/18 "2013-08-05T04:37:45Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Thanks aceplace57. Now to my other part of my question regarding hereditary military titles (if there was such as thing). I need to clear up something I either read or heard about inheriting military ranks/titles. Did it ever happen? Was it a British convention? I’ve been trying to get an answer to this question for some time but can’t come up with anything. I’d appreciate your feedback on that. If any other commenter have some information regarding this I look forward to your feedback. Thanks. > davidmich Here’s your other thread: [Were military ranks/titles ever hereditary in England? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=698462) George Washington inherited no military titles, as noted above. For more on his early military career (and although he angled for a King’s commission he never served in the British Army, as such, but in the Virginia militia), see Ron Chernow’s excellent _Washington: A Life_.