King Augustine I (born Lawrence Augustine Washington; April 11, 1774 - February 15, 1824) was King of the United States from 1799 until his death in 1824 and a nephew of United States[1]monarch George I and son of Price Samuel Washington and his fourth wife, Anne Steptoe. He was later known as "the Land-expander"
Lawrence was born at Mount Vernon Palace. After his father's death, he, along with his brother George Steptoe and sister Harriot, went to live with their uncle, King George, for a time. The future king paid for him and his brother to be educated at Georgetown academy. Lawrence Augustine married Mary Dorcas Wood on November 6, 1797 in Winchester, Virginia. Together, the couple had four children.
1799 Succession Crisis[]
After the death of King George I on December 14, 1799, the United States Constitution followed the Rules of Succession of 1797 and the crown fell upon Augustine's brother George Steptoe Washington. He refused the crown and renounced all claims and royal titles, but still took the title "Duke of Harewood". The crown then fell to Lawrence. Lawrence reluctantly took the throne since he was the younger brother of George and did not have much experience as a monarch.
The king had led the American people through the War of 1812 and led the kingdom out of isolationism and made the United States of America a global power.
Foreign Relations
Augustine had many foreign relation policies during his reign, but the most prominent foreign relation was with the French Emperor, Napoleon I. The Emperor had sold the territory of Louisiana to the United States for pennies as an act of unofficial alliance. King George III of the United Kingdom had seen this as a way of getting to him and the British and declared war on the Americans on June 18, 1812. The war lasted until March 23, 1815 and resulted in the burning of the White Palace. The United States lost the Territory of Maine, part of the Province of Massachusetts.
Death[]
On February 15, 1824, King Augustine I died of old age and had surviving issue. His eldest son, George, succeeded him as King George II.
| Titles and Sucessions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Geroge I "the Liberator" | King of the United Staes of America | Goerge II "the Lame" |
| Prince Francis Washington | Duke of Harewood | |