A business biography of George Washington, focusing on his many innovations and inventions. George Washington: general, statesman…businessman? Most people don’t know that Washington was one of the country’s first true entrepreneurs, responsible for innovations in several industries. In George Washington, Entrepreneur, John Berlau presents a fresh, surprising take on our forefather’s business … forefather’s business pursuits.
History has depicted Washington as a gifted general and political pragmatist, not an intellectual heavyweight. But he was a patron of inventors and inveterate tinkerer, and just as intelligent as Jefferson or Franklin. His library was filled with books on agriculture, history, and philosophy. He was the first to breed horses with donkeys to produce the American mule. On his estate, he grew countless varieties of trees and built a greenhouse full of exotic fruits, herbs, and plants. Unlike his Virginia neighbors who remained wedded to tobacco, Washington planted seven types of wheat. His state-of-the-art mill produced flour which he exported to Europe in sacks stamped “G. Washington”–one of the very first branded food products. Mount Vernon was also home to a distillery and became one of the largest American whiskey producers of the era.
Berlau’s portrait of Washington, drawn in large part from his journals and extensive correspondence, presents a side of him we haven’t seen before. It is sure to delight readers of presidential biography and business history.
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This was an interesting book. I have not read much about George Washington and didn’t realize his father died when George was young, which meant George didn’t have the advantage of the English education his older brothers had. Nor did he inherit as much. Yet he was very productive from a young age. I mean what teenage boy now starts an apprenticeship and has a business a few years later. I also didn’t know he was an inventor and entrepreneur. The writing style is easy-to-read and the has lots of information, but it not bogged down with dry facts. The author makes it more like a story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my opinion on this book.
Surveyor, agribusinessman, patron of inventors: John Berlau shows how Washington brought his skillset ― curiosity, persistence, flexibility ― to his life as an entrepreneur.
At a time when others downgrade so many historical figures, John Berlau lifts a worthy man higher ― Washington. Berlau gives us a fascinating tour of Washington’s business side, illuminating the relationship between entrepreneurial, military and political achievement.
Just when you think the scholarship on our first president has become exhausted, along comes a book like George Washington, Entrepreneur to open your eyes and impart new knowledge about our greatest president. Berlau is an exquisite writer and historian.
I have read so many biographies of George Washington, all focusing on his role as first president. When I saw this book offered from NetGalley I wanted to read it for its different approach to his life. There was so much more t0 him than politics,. He was a great intellectual and creative man. I had visited Mount Vernon and wanted to know more about his business methods in agriculture. His attitude towards slavery is touched upon and his ability to adapt to the times was interesting.
There were just two things that kept this from being a five star review. First, I would have liked to have more historical details of agricultural methods worldwide for comparison. Second, I would have dropped the final chapter. The author, in my opinion, spoiled it by mounting his soapbox in the final chapter. But even with that quibble, I enjoyed it overall.
18th-century, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, commerce
Don’t expect an unbiased review. Our family has been involved in American Revolutionary War re-enacting for years, and GW has always been our Commander In Chief.
But this book is about the whole man and his partner in life and in business, Martha, and how they were exceptional business persons without being crooks. I remember somewhere coming across a statement he made to the effect that he was “just a simple farmer.” Ja. I’ve been to Mt Vernon and have seen the distillery, grist mill, etc. He diversified crops and discarded tobacco as a poor investment long before it was proved over a hundred years later. He involved himself in improvements in Virginia, and when the taxes on ironwork, wool, and other atrocities encroached on the good of the colonies he made the mind of the people known. There are a lot more instances and insights clarified in this book, but I think more people should invest in it besides those of us who follow the scent of cookfires and cannon fire.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Thank you!!