Biography

Born to John Parke Custis, Martha Washington's son from her first marriage, George Washington Parke Custis was adopted by George Washington and Martha upon the death of his father when Custis was only six months old. Custis was raised at Mount Vernon and remained a prominent figure in Washington City and Alexandria until his death. Custis was indulged by his grandmother as a child at Mount Vernon. By the time Custis left Virginia to attend college at Princeton in 1797, his grandfather had retired and took a more active role in shaping his ward. Washington wrote Custis frequently to encourage him to take his studies more seriously. Custis soon left Princeton for St. John's College in Annapolis but never completed his college education.

After George Washington died in December 1799, Custis was left his twelve hundred acre tract of land at Four-mile run in Alexandria and square 21 in the fledgling Washington City. However, Custis chose to build his home on land inherited from his father at Arlington. This thousand acre piece of land was situated just across the Potomac River from Washington City, and Custis built a Greek Revival home atop a hill with expansive views of the river and the city.

Custis owned landed estates worked by nearly 200 slaves, although he  freed some slaves during his lifetime and all upon his death. While not a financially successful plantation manager, Custis promoted American agriculture and was particularly interested in the improvement of domestic sheep farming and wool production. He also was interested in painting, playwriting, music and oratory. Regarding himself as the heir to the Washington tradition, Custis collected and displayed, a large number of Mount Vernon relics at Arlington. He was always eager to comment on the collection and the Washington legacy for famous guests and curious strangers.

-- adapted from both Mount Vernon and the National Park Service's biographies