100 Interesting Facts About George Washington

Facts About George Washington: George Washington was the first President of the United States of America. He led the American army to victory over Britain in the American Revolution. He was elected the first President of America in 1789. Even today a coin in his name is used in America.

His mother's name was Mary Ball and father's name was Augustine Washington. They were both teachers at a local university. As a child, Washington did not attend any school for a very long time. His ancestors came from England, and his great-grandfather was John Washington, an English merchant who had emigrated to the Virginia colony of British America.

There is a popular but false story about George Washington that once he cut down his father's cherry tree in his childhood. When his father asked, he did not tell a lie and told the truth that he had cut the tree. This story is told and told to show how honest Washington was. But the funny thing is that this story is not honest and it was coined by Parson Weams. He served in the Army of Virginia and was a member of its legislature when America was a slave.

100 Interesting Facts About George Washington

Cool Facts About George Washington

He was the only president who received all 132 electoral votes.
Before the war, George Washington was a farmer and land surveyor.
George Washington was the first president to not reside in the White House.
After completing his second presidential term, George Washington retired to Mount.
At the Battle of Monongahela in 1755, George Washington’s coat was pierced by four musket balls.
John Ramage, a former Irish loyalist who fought the Continental Army drew Washington’s first presidential portrait.
Unlike the present presidential cabinet that has 16 members, George Washington’s cabinet had only four original members.
Every year, the United States Senate commemorates George Washington’s birthday with an annual reading of the Farewell Address.
George Washington was an avid animal lover. He had a variety of pets, from birds to dogs. He was also America’s first mule breeder.
George Washington was fearful of being buried alive, so he directed that his body should not be buried until three days after death.
George Washington is popularly known as the “Father of His Country” as he played a crucial role in shaping the United States of America.
After the inauguration in New York City, George Washington had to leave his carriage and walk home as the streets were crowded with people.
George Washington was fond of riding, fox hunting, dancing, playing billiards, and watching theatrical performances. He even had his own racehorses.
The first president of the United States studied till the 11th grade. After his father passed away, he did not have the means to study abroad in England.

Fun Facts About George Washington

George Washington was the only president to be inaugurated in two cities. His first inauguration was held in New York, and the second one was in Philadelphia.
His second inaugural speech was the shortest speech ever to be delivered by a president. It contained just 135 words and was clocked in less than two minutes.
Near the end of his life, Washington founded a rye and corn whiskey distillery on his Dogue Run Farm. It was one of the largest commercial distilleries at that time.
George Washington was hesitant to take up the presidency. He once said that he had “no wish which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen.”
Although he did not have any biological children, George Washington became the legal guardian for Martha’s children. He used to write letters to guide and advise them on their studies.
George Washington’s teeth were not made of wood, as popularly believed. He ruined his teeth from cracking walnut shells, so he had to wear false teeth made of ivory, cow teeth, and lead.
Upon retirement, he headed to his homeland, Mount Vernon. That was during the 1797 springs. Leaving the government in able hands, he was sure of a smooth transition that guarantees prosperity.
The first draft of George Washington’s inaugural speech was seventy pages long and had recommendations to the Congress about internal improvements, military affairs, and international treaties.
On September 17, 1796, George Washington informed the American people about his retirement in an article printed in Philadelphia’s American Daily Advertiser. The article became the famous Farewell Address.
He served two terms as the president of the United States. During this time, Americans witnessed massive changes in terms of economy and leadership. He had the right individuals in place with little opposition.
Washington’s underground spy network helped the Americans win the revolutionary war. It is said that he was more deeply involved in intelligence operations than any American general-in-chief until World War II.

Important Facts About George Washington

George Washington played a pivotal role in shaping the constitution of America. He was elected as the president of the convention that formed the constitution. He was also the first person to sign the constitution.
Although Washington showed dedication in everything he got his hands into, he had undergone several episodes of suffering health-wise. He had suffered from pneumonia, dysentery, smallpox, tuberculosis, among other illnesses.
At only 11 years, he had already inherited slaves from his father. After retirement, he devoted energetically to take care of the landholdings. By the 1790s, there were over 300 slaves at Mount Vernon. Slavery was then legal.
The congress offered a $25,000 salary, but George was still reluctant about it. He never wanted much so that the public doesn’t see him as a burden or selfless leader. He was wise when it comes to protecting the personal image.
The Yorktown campaign sealed the American victory. The Continental Army led by George Washington surrounded the British southern army and compelled them to start serious negotiations that resulted in the independence of America.
Washington lacked the middle name. During that time, middle names were not common in Europe and related colonies. Things changed later on, and from the early 19th century, people considered adding more words to the naming system.
Not a lot is known concerning Washington’s childhood. Although many biographers have invented and written a lot about the same, they have just filled the gap that many keep questioning. Childhood is the most poorly understood part.
In the history of the United States, no other president has ever lead the troops to a battlefield. Washington was exceptional. Armed with the military skills and with a desire to see people work closely with the federal government.
Although political parties were showing up and calling themselves Democratic and Republicans, Washington never had affiliations to either of the parties. These opposing views of having political parties, later on, came to actualize later.
In 1787, Washington was among the individuals involved in drafting the U.S. constitution. Being the president of the Constitutional Convention that took place in Virginia, he was granted a chance to pen the first signature on the document.

Weird Facts About George Washington

George Washington led a force from the Virginia Regiment to Jumonville Glen in Pennsylvania. Washington’s forces killed many French soldiers. This attack was considered to trigger the events that quickly escalated into the Seven Year’s War.
Before the official marriage, Washington was in love with Sally Fairfax. Sally was the wife to one of the right and very close friends of Washington. He went ahead to write love letters that showed the affection that George had towards Sally.
The British Proclamation Act of 1763 was not something to be happy about. It prohibited settling beyond the Alleghenies, and this hungered Washington to the extent of calling for colonial resistance, which brought about the American Revolution.
John worked closely with the president. During the last days as the president, Washington turned over the government to his vice president, John Adams, and later, packed to his homeland at Mount Vernon to pursue farming, among other activities.
After the 1758 war, when 14 were killed and 26 soldiers wounded, he decided to quit. It was a frustrating moment. His decision was because many choices on the military were slow, there was limited support, and his soldiers were poorly recruited.
Though he got involved in several wars to fight against intruders, he still watched what was happening around cautiously, including France and Great Britain war of 1793. He later signed a peace treaty with Britain to clear the underlying issues.
Washington farewell address is among the precise, yet citizens remember it up to today. Hamilton helped him to compose a speech that focused on not only thanking the Americans but urging them to avoid permanent foreign alliances and partisanship.
Other than being a politician, farmer, and a soldier, George Washington loved to read and write. Among the books he wrote is ‘The Rules of Civility’ There are multiple books that autobiographers and writers have written about the Founding Father.
George was in love with the military and wanted to be part of the British Navy. The mother was against the idea, and Washington was left to exploit other alternatives. It was then that he would turn to the survey, which he showed many capabilities.
Of all the titles you might think of, then George Washington fits them all. He’s surely the man of many titles. The Commander in Chief, the President, General, Continental Commander, among other titles. He preferred a simple title, “Mr. President.”

Unknown Facts About George Washington

The family traces its root back from England, where George’s great grandfather came from. John Washington, the great grandfather, migrated to Virginia from England. The family held some distinction, but upon migration, the wealth in England was lost.
In 1759, January 6, Washington got into marriage. He married a beautiful woman that brought a lot of change, along with the two kids. Martha Dandridge came from Virginia’s Tidewater area. Although it was a second marriage, to George, it was his first.
Although he didn’t seek any position, he was appointed as the commander of the continental army without serious competition. As the Major General and Commander-in-Chief of North American colonies against Great Britain, he headed the revolution firmly.
Long before he became the president, the affairs of the United States were always at heart. The authorities were unable to collect revenues, making it hard to pay debts. Through constitutional convention and later election, he resolves the debt crisis.
The marriage went ahead to last for 40 years, irrespective of the couple not adding more kids. His wife Martha, had kids from the previous relationship. Scientists now speculate that there might have been issues with Washington when it comes to fertility.
While he was an outstanding ‘no nonsense’ military man, he valued peace. People remember him up to date for signing peace treaties. He did so among the Native American tribes to ensure a peaceful coexistence when running errands or during political times.
At a very young age, 20 years, George headed the family Virginia Estates, which were among the most prominent in the area. It was after the elder brother, and his father inheritor, Lawrence, died of tuberculosis, leaving George as the heir of the family lands.
When George was 11 years old, his father passed on, and the older half-brothers of George took over the management of Augustine property. Lawrence, the half-brother, who had now inherited some part of the family plantation, played a crucial role in his upbringing.
Moments after he was involved in the constitutional convention, Americans wanted him back to serve the country. He became the first president to win the election, with every elector at the Electoral College voting for him. That must have been a unanimous approval.
George, during his youthful stage, had a lifelong relationship with the Fairfax family. He referred to the closeness as the happiest moments of his life. The social connections would later propel him to become a soldier, surveyor, and politician, while still young.

Random Facts About George Washington

As the French Revolution began, an amazing thing happened. He became a French citizen. Interestingly, he never spoke French, and never visited France despite the honorary citizenship. Other Americans awarded the same status will ignore the revolution due to violence.
After the first term in office, he felt that things were running pretty well, and the institutions could follow the trend for a better United States simply because they enjoy the people’s support. Congress, through Thomas Jefferson, reached him to take a second term.
George Washington formalized the Thanksgiving holiday by issuing a proclamation designating November 26 as a national thanksgiving day. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued another proclamation to commemorate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November each year.
According to the Gregorian calendar that’s used up to the present day, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. The birthplace was at his father’s owned plantation at the Pope’s Creek, popularly known as the Wakefield and located in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
With a broad government and capable people, all the aspects were looked at keenly. He appointed the secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, and other critical appointments with the consultation of the cabinet. He observed absolute honesty and integrity in leadership.
Among the six children that Augustine Washington had with Mary Ball, George was the eldest. The six include Mildred, Charles, John Augustine, Samuel, Elizabeth, and George. However, before George’s father married her mum, the second wife, he already had two sons and a daughter.
George’s father was known for having a leading plantation. Other than being a leading planter, the father, Augustine Washington, worked in a county court as a justice. The mother and Augustine’s wife, Mary Ball Washington, was the second wife after Jane Butler, who died in 1729.
While he was an aggressive general and the commander of Virginia troops at the age of 23, Washington has several accounts when he went to expeditions and was defeated. One time, the British secured a victory taking over the Ohio Valley and leaving behind deaths and wounded soldiers.
Most of the skills that George Washington showcased in life was as a result of his acquaintance. Whether it was at an early age during the local church attendance, surveying, or through the woodsmen, and as a plantation foreman, he mastered a lot of things that kept him knowledgeable.

Quick Facts About George Washington for Kids

French trappers and settlers had noted the commercial potential of the area because that’s where the rivers met, and they were aggressive to ensure they take control. George, who was only 21 years old then, commenced the journey past the Allegheny Mountains to command French withdrawal.
In 1783, the United States of America won the war and was ready to form its own government and constitution. George Washington wanted to retire to Mount Vernon. Before leaving, he wrote a “Circular Letter” to all the state executives on the four things he felt would help establish America.
When the French military started occupying the Ohio valley to protect the interest of their king, Washington was fast to show his aggressiveness and leadership qualities. The then Virginia Governor, Lieutenant Robert Dinwiddie, noticed Washington capabilities and appointed him as a significant adjutant within Virginia.
In 1751, George Washington accompanied his brother Lawrence to the island of Barbados. He contracted smallpox and recovered, which gave him lifelong immunity to the dreadful disease. His experience in dealing with smallpox became crucial during the revolutionary war, making him the country’s first public health advocate.
George was gifted in mathematics. At the age of 16, he learned a lot concerning the land survey. He would accompany William Fairfax, a competent surveyor, to the Virginia frontier wilderness towards the western territory. It did not take long before he was appointed an official surveyor of Culpeper County. Almost 199 surveys are credited to Washington.
When running errands or during the days in the military, Washington loved horseback riding. Blueskin was the name of George Washington’s favorite horse. It was a gray horse and was one of the two primary mounts during the American Revolutionary War. Besides, he could go out for fishing excursions and hunting. Interestingly, even when off during the weekends, he would join the laborers on the farm.
Unlike the elder brothers who had schooled back in England, Washington never had a formal education. He didn’t attend any college. George’s mother had plans to send him to England to finish his education. However, his father died when he was just 11, and during that time, the family had limited funds that would see him through formal education. George received the rest of his education in the colonies.
Although Washington lost the first tooth when still in the twenties, there is no evidence that he had wooden teeth. According to the information recorded in his diary, at age 24, he paid 5 shillings to a “Doctr Watson” who removed one of his teeth. Due to dental woes, he had lost all his teeth in his fifties. He had dentures that were made of multiple materials like copper, silver, and ivory and not wood.
George Washington died of a throat infection at the age of 67. He suffered from several other illnesses during his life time. Experts estimate that Washington may have had Diphtheria when he was about 15. He was infected by smallpox at the age of 19. This was a serious concern back then which killed almost 1 out of every three person it affected. And then he suffered with dysentery for a length of time during his life.
Unfortunately, the president who did everything possible to have the right governance structures did not enjoy all of them. Since Washington’s terms ended before the White House was completed, he didn’t have that chance. It was completed later on after his death. However, George Washington, selected the site for the White House in 1791; and President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved into the unfinished house in 1800.
Throughout George’s life, farming is one thing he has shown a lot of passion for. It is an honorable profession that made him an icon in Mount Vernon. He grew tobacco and wheat and experimented with different fertilizers like manure. The virtue is evident in not only the farms he owned but the many hectares he continued to acquire across New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, and Ohio. He farmed over 3000 acres and ran the largest whiskey distillery in America, with the help of over 300 slaves.
George’s father Augustine Washington raised horses and had immense love for them. After his death, his wife took charge of the horses and there was one particular horse which she loved the most. It was an untrained horse named “Colt.” When one day young George was playing with his friends in the pasture where this horse was kept, he decided to ride the horse. With the help of his friends, he managed to put bridle on the horse. Somehow George managed to seat on the horse but Colt erupted with rage and surprise. In the tussle between George and the horse, the horse tried its best to unseat him and unfortunately in the attempt a blood vessel of his ruptured and it finally died of the injury. When George returned home; he bravely told his mother about the incident, and that he had killed the horse it an attempt to ride and train him. His mother was sorrowful yet she rejoiced in the fact that her son had told her the truth.

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