Written by John Ferling, one of America's leading historians of the Revolutionary era, The First of Men offers an illuminating portrait of George Washington's life, with emphasis on his military and political career. Here is a riveting account that captures Washington in all his complexity, recounting not only Washington's familiar sterling qualities-courage, industry, ability to make difficult decisions, ceaseless striving for self-improvement, love of his family and loyalty to friends-but also his less well known character flaws. Indeed, as Ferling shows, Washington had to overcome many negative traits as he matured into a leader. The young Washington was accused of ingratitude and certain of his letters from this period read as if they were written by "a pompous martinet and a whining, petulant brat". As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, he lost his temper more than once and indulged flatterers. Aaron Burr found him "a boring, colorless person". As president, he often believed the worst about individual officials. Ferling concludes that Washington's personality and temperament were those of "a self-centered and self-absorbed man, one who since youth had exhibited a fragile self-esteem". And yet he managed to realize virtually every grand design he ever conceived. Ferling's Washington is driven, fired by ambition, envy, and dreams of fame and fortune. Yet his leadership and character galvanized the American Revolution-probably no one else could have kept the war going until the master stroke at Yorktown-and helped the fledgling nation take, and survive, its first unsteady steps. This superb paperback makes available once again an unflinchingly honest and compelling biography of the father of our country.

The First of Men: A Life of George Washington

Biographies & Memoirs

Ferling, John E.

Historical

Oxford University Press

A leading political figure in Pennsylvania, Joseph Galloway after 1776 was branded a "traitor" and a "cringing, bowing sycophantic Tory." Galloway's tragedy is shown in this book to have been ideological: he was a strict constitutionalist. In this respect, Dr. Ferling contends, he was a typical Loyalist, generally more principled than self-serving.
In 1774, Galloway's Plan of Union lost in the Congress by one vote—a loss that changed the course of history, since Galloway tried to avoid revolution by anticipating the British commonwealth system. In 1775, when the Assembly spurned Galloway's recommendation that it abandon its defiance of Britain, Galloway quit the Assembly and the Congress—whereas Franklin joined the forces that conceived the Declaration of Independence.
Galloway served General Howe as a compiler of intelligence reports, as a recruiter of Loyalist troops, and as police commissioner of British-occupied Philadelphia. After 1778 he pamphleteered in London to rally the flagging British war effort, and he wrote one of the earliest histories of the "American Rebellion." Until his death in exile in 1803, Galloway remained steadfast in his belief that "the most proper Plan for cementing the two countries together" would have been constitutional, granting "America the same Rights and Privileges as are enjoyed by the Subjects in Britain."

The Loyalist Mind: Joseph Galloway and the American Revolution

Penn State University Press

Written by John Ferling, one of America's leading historians of the Revolutionary era, The First of Men offers an illuminating portrait of George Washington's life, with emphasis on his military and political career. Here is a riveting account that captures Washington in all his complexity, recounting not only Washington's familiar sterling qualities--courage, industry, ability to make difficult decisions, ceaseless striving for self-improvement, love of his family and loyalty to friends--but also his less well known character flaws. Indeed, as Ferling shows, Washington had to overcome many negative traits as he matured into a leader. The young Washington was accused of ingratitude and certain of his letters from this period read as if they were written by "a pompous martinet and a whining, petulant brat." As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, he lost his temper more than once and indulged flatterers. Aaron Burr found him "a boring, colorless person." As president, he often believed the worst about individual officials. Ferling concludes that Washington's personality and temperament were those of "a self-centered and self-absorbed man, one who since youth had exhibited a fragile self-esteem." And yet he managed to realize virtually every grand design he ever conceived. Ferling's Washington is driven, fired by ambition, envy, and dreams of fame and fortune. Yet his leadership and character galvanized the American Revolution--probably no one else could have kept the war going until the master stroke at Yorktown--and helped the fledgling nation take, and survive, its first unsteady steps. This superb paperback makes available once again an unflinchingly honest and compelling biography of the father of our country.

Univ of Tennessee Pr

Written by John Ferling, one of America's leading historians of the Revolutionary era, The First of Men offers an illuminating portrait of George Washington's life, with emphasis on his military and political career.

Traces the life of America's second president, describes his role in shaping the country's history, and looks at his family relationships

John Adams: A Life

It was a contest of titans. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two heroes of the Revolutionary era, once intimate friends, now her antagonists locked in a fierce battle for the future of the United States. The election of 1800 was a thunderous clash of a campaign that climaxed in a deadlock in the Electoral College and led to a crists in which the young republic teetered on the edge of collapse. Adams vs. Jefferson is a gripping account of a true turning point in American history, a dramatic struggle between two parties with profoundly different visions of how the nation should be governed. Jefferson's election, John Ferling concludes, consummated the American Revolution, assuring the democratization of the United States and its true separation from Britain. With magisterial command, Ferling brings to life both the outsize personalities and the hotly contested political questions at stake. He shows not just why this moment was a milestone in U.S. history, but how strongly the issues and the passions of 1800 resonate with our own time.

Adams Vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800

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Books by Ferling, John E.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ferling, John E.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The First of Men: A Life of George Washington

The Loyalist Mind: Joseph Galloway and the American Revolution

The First of Men: A Life of George Washington

The First of Men: A Life of George Washington

John Adams: A Life

Adams Vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800