George Washington was well-known prior to him being the president of the United States. Washington was appointed to lead the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. George had experience with farming and fighting.
During the War, George Washington was mainly known for his most famous time at Valley Forge. It was not necessarily a battle, but it was a time when his soldiers were suffering from the cold and lack of food.
He also was crucial in the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the war when the other countries realized that the patriots actually had a chance of winning the war and winning their freedom. The Battle of Yorktown was the battle that won the war.