Lawrence Washington (1718-1752)

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Lawrence Washington (1718-1752) was George Washington's half-brother and mentor. He married Anne Fairfax (1728-1761), daughter of Colonel William Fairfax of Belvoir, himself a land agent for his cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Together, he and Anne had one son, named Sir John Washington of Thrapston, Northhamptonshire, England. George accompanied his brother Lawrence to the warm springs at Bath (present-day Berkeley Springs, West Virginia), which Lawrence visited frequently to cure his ailments. On Lawrence's death, George inherited his estate at Mount Vernon, which Lawrence had named in honour British admiral Edward Vernon, with whom Lawrence had served. Lawrence had served as an officer in Gooch's Marines, the 61st Foot, which was under the British Admiral Vernon's command in the War of Jenkins' Ear. Lawrence was a survivor of the expeditions against the seaport of Cartagena, New Granda and against Cuba and Panama. Lawrence admired his British naval commander, Edward Vernon so much that he named his Virginia plantation house Mount Vernon.

Lawrence Washington died of smallpox.