Agricultural Innovator and Businessman
Land Acquisitions and FarmingGeorge Washington came from a long line of "self-made" men who made their living acquiring land in the new colony of Virginia beginning in 1656 when John Washington emigrated from England. George Washington made a business of land acquisitions and farming the thousands of acres he acquired through inheritance, marriage, trade and purchase.
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FisheriesWashington's fisheries were his biggest "money-maker" of all of his ventures. His workers and enslaved people caught 1M+ fish from the Potomac River each spring.
His fisheries fed his enslaved and paid workers and the leftovers were sold for profit for the estate. |
DistilleriesWashington began work on his distillery in 1797 at the behest of his farm Scottish farm manager. In the first year his distillery produced 600 gallons for a profit. In 1799 Washington's distillery was the largest in America and contained 5 copper stills. The distillery produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey in the last year of Washington's life.
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