Timothy Nicolson (We the Founders)

Timothy Nicolson (July 9, 1747 – January 20, 1818) was an American statesman and soldier who served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He served as Aide-de-Camp under General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, and later presided over the 1787 convention that drafted the United States Constitution.

Early Life
Nicolson was born to a recently immigrated Scottish family in Delaware on July 9, 1747 and later temporarily moved to Virginia in 1751. His father, Paul Nicolson, served as a corporal in the colonial militia during the early stages of the French and Indian War but became severely wounded and was forced to have his leg amputated before he was sent home. His family was later awarded by land offers in Virginia and residence became permanent. Nicolson's father later became ill from infection and died in early 1757. His newly-widowed mother was forced to take care of three children, including Timothy and two other siblings (Sarah and James). She was killed in 1758 by a drunk outside the local pub and he was subsequently sent to a small local orphanage.

He served as a personal assistant and apprentice of George Washington in 1759 during the latter's tenure as part of the Virginia provincial legislature, representing Frederick County. He ran into Washington while traveling out looking for odd jobs. After a conversation, Nicolson realized it was him from local newspaper and begged Washington to take him in as a personal assistant. It was reported that Washington took pity and reluctantly accepted. The two eventually became close, with Martha Washington (George Washington's wife), wrote that the two had something akin to an "Uncle and Nephew" relationship.