half-brother Lawrence died in 1752. Under the terms of his will, Washington acquired the beautiful estate of Mount Vernon, in Fairfax County, one of the six farms owned by the Washington family. Also, the death of his dearly loved half-brother opened another door to the future. Lawrence had the post of adjutant in the colonial militia. This was a full-time salaried appointment that carried the rank of major and involved the inspection, mustering, and regulation of various militia companies. Washington was confident he could make an efficient adjutant at the age of 20, though he did not have any military experience. In November 1752 he was appointed adjutant of the southern district of Virginia by Governor Robert Dinwiddie.
             During the following summer, Virginia had it brought to their attention that a French expedition from Canada was establishing posts on the headwaters of the Ohio River and trying to make treaties with the Native American peoples. Governor Dinwiddie received orders from Britain to demand an immediate French withdrawal, and Major Washington swiftly volunteered to carry the governor's message to the French commander. His desire at this time was to secure royal preference for a commission in the regular British army, and this expedition promised to bring him to the king's attention. Washington took with him a skillful and experienced frontiersman, Christopher Gist, together with an interpreter and four other men. He reached the forks of Ohio and found that the French had withdrawn northward for the winter. After uncertain negotiations with the Native Americans living there, who were members of the Iroquois Confederacy, he pressed on and finally delivered Dinwiddie's message to the French commander at Fort Le Boeuf located near Lake Erie. The answer was respectful but firm: The French were there to stay. Washington reached Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia, to deliver this word to the governor in the middle of Januar...