Robert Dinwiddie: The governor who first trusted George Washington
Ben Kingsley plays him in the new film Young Washington, but who was Robert Dinwiddie, the Virginia governor responsible for George Washington’s big break?
Image: Public Domain
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This document set the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States on the road to freedom from British rule. So, this year is inevitably going to see many minds looking anew at how the United States established itself as a sovereign nation.
The most famous figure associated with this sea change is George Washington. On reflection, you might be surprised how little you actually know about the 1st President of the United States. A new historical war drama film, Young Washington, is set to enlighten audiences this summer, with William Franklyn-Miller starring as the eponymous hero.
The film focuses on Washington’s formative years as a militia officer fighting for the British (yes, really) in the French and Indian War. The trailer teases British thespian Ben Kingsley’s turn as Robert Dinwiddie - but how much did the lieutenant governor of Virginia genuinely shape Washington’s political journey? We at Sky HISTORY investigate.
Robert Dinwiddie’s early life
In the Young Washington trailer, Robert Dinwiddie speaks in an unmistakably English accent – but the man himself was actually born in Glasgow in 1692. Dinwiddie climbed the ranks of the British colonial service, including as customs collector for Bermuda and surveyor general of customs in southern America.
In 1751, Robert Dinwiddie became lieutenant governor of Virginia, one of Britain’s North American colonies. The position gave him much more political clout than you might have thought. As the titular governors of Virginia were based in Britain rather than the colony itself, Dinwiddie was the latter’s de facto head.
Anglo-French tension grows in the colonies
In the 1750s, Britain and France were both clamouring to snap up as much land as possible in the New World. This inevitably led to disputes over who was entitled to what. In 1753, Dinwiddie was alarmed to hear about French forces encroaching on land in Ohio Country he firmly believed to be legitimate British territory.
Determined to find a diplomatic solution, Robert Dinwiddie chose Washington to lead an eight-man expedition to Ohio Country. There, Washington was to hand the French a message insisting that they withdraw from the area. Washington’s willingness to step forward was a sign of the bravery for which he would become renowned in his military campaigns later down the line.
Washington keeps bouncing back
In December 1753, Washington arrived at the French-built Fort Le Boeuf, where he was received politely by commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre. However, the message Washington brought back to Dinwiddie was clear: the French had no intention of budging.
Since diplomacy hadn’t worked, Dinwiddie turned to the militia. He initially gave Joshua Fry command of the Virginia Regiment. Nonetheless, Dinwiddie clearly thought well of Washington, as he inherited command of the regiment after Fry’s unexpected death in May 1754.
Later that month, Washington’s men defeated the French at the Battle of Jumonville Glen, kicking off the French and Indian War. Seeking revenge, the French followed the Virginia Regiment to Fort Necessity, where Washington surrendered. In 1754, Washington aided General Edward Braddock in another unsuccessful attempt to expel the French from Ohio Country.
Washington’s relationship with Dinwiddie
Washington was a mainstay in the Virginia Regiment during the 1750s, reflecting Dinwiddie’s confidence in his young protege. Still, Washington was frustrated by his many failed attempts to secure a commission with the British Army.
This was just one of many concerns Washington raised in letters to Dinwiddie over the course of the war. The young commander also complained about a shortage of troops, and that those he did have were not getting the pay or respect they deserved.
Colonial troops were officially denied royal commissions, being treated as second-class compared to British Army soldiers. Dinwiddie expressed sympathy for Washington but pinned blame on the Virginia General Assembly, arguing that its legislators were not adequately funding the war effort.
Robert Dinwiddie’s legacy
Dinwiddie’s repeated attempts to assuage Washington’s concerns evidently came to nothing. In 1758, Washington left the Virginia Regiment for good, while Dinwiddie resigned as the colony’s lieutenant governor. However, though Dinwiddie subsequently returned to Britain, he left a long-lasting impact on Washington.
The increasingly strained relationship with Dinwiddie fuelled Washington’s resentment towards his British overlords. On the plus side, Dinwiddie had given him valuable military experience. Whitehall was clearly not standing for the colonials’ best interests, inspiring Washington to fight for them himself in the American Revolution decades later.
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