George Washington (1732-1799) was a farmer, legislator, surveyor, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and the first President of the United States. He frequently used this road during his expeditions to the western frontier. In 1754, after spending the night near Cameron's Ordinary near present-day Alexandria, Washington and other members of the Virginia Militia used Vestal's Gap Road to travel to Edward Thompson's near present-day Hillsboro, then continued to Winchester and on to Western Pennsylvania; this expedition culminated in Washington's defeat at Fort Necessity. In 1755, while serving as a volunteer aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock, Washington and elements of Braddock's Army used Vestal's Gap Road as their route to Winchester, joined the northern elements of Braddock's Army at Fort Frederick, and proceeded to Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), where Braddock's Army was ambushed and Braddock mortally wounded during the retreat.