George Washington was a fascinating and inspirational figure, and one of the most famous figures in American history. While there is much to admire about our first president, it is important to remember that he was also a person shaped by his place and time. He owned enslaved people, believed in the “assimilation” of Native Americans, and failed miserably in his early military efforts. Check out these interesting facts about George Washington to learn more.
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20 Fun Facts About George Washington for Kids
1. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 on a plantation in Virginia.
Washington was the fifth of nine surviving children from his father’s two marriages. He had three brothers, two sisters, three half-brothers, and one half-sister.
2. When Washington was 11 years old, his father died and made George 10 slaves in his will. Washington owned hundreds of slaves during his lifetime.
At the time of his death, Washington’s Mount Vernon Plantation housed 317 slaves. In his later years, he supported the gradual legislative abolition of slavery and directed in his will that enslaved people be freed after the death of his wife Martha.
3. There was little formal schooling in Washington, equivalent to today’s elementary school education, an embarrassing fact for him.
Although his older brothers were sent to England for education, Washington did not enjoy this privilege. After his father died when George was 11 years old, he was left at home to learn how to run a plantation.
4. At the age of 16, Washington left home to become a land surveyor. At age 21, he became a major in the militia and led the attack that started the French and Indian War in 1754.
In 1758, Washington resigned his commission to return to work on plantation land. At the time of his resignation, he was a brigade commander in charge of frontier defense in Virginia.
5. One of Washington’s early battles was an embarrassing failure. His mistake resulted in more than 100 casualties at Fort Necessity, and the fort surrendered completely.
Washington built a fort in a poor location prone to flooding, but misjudged his enemy’s intentions. The surrender took place on July 4, 1754. Washington commanded 283 soldiers at Fort Necessity. This meant that more than a third of his troops were wounded or killed.
6. In 1758, Washington was elected to the Virginia General Assembly, where he served until 1776.
Washington first ran for the House of Burgesses in 1755, while still a soldier, but lost. He received 40 votes, while his opponents received 270 and 271 votes.
7. George Washington married Martha Custis in 1759. Martha was a widow with two young children. She and George had no children of their own.
Martha was eight months older than George. She could read and write, which was somewhat unusual for a woman at the time. At the time of her second marriage, she was a wealthy woman with vast lands and nearly 300 slaves.
8. Mount Vernon, Virginia, was George Washington’s home and is located on land granted to his family in 1674.
Mount Vernon also grew fruits and vegetables, as well as tobacco and wheat. Under Washington’s supervision, the plantation area doubled to approximately 7,600 acres, and the house expanded from 3,500 square feet to more than 11,000 square feet. The plantation was located on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway people.
9. Washington was an excellent rider and enjoyed horse racing. He also bred mules using donkeys given to him by King Charles III of Spain.
Known as the Royal Gift, donkeys were big news in America during the Revolutionary War. The animal landed in Boston, and the Mount Vernon warden spent 25 days walking it to Virginia.
10. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army and asked Washington to serve as its commander-in-chief.
Washington refused to accept a salary as a military commander, accepting only room and board expenses.
11. Washington famously remained with an underfunded and poorly trained army for six years, even under the harshest of conditions, including the winter he spent at Valley Forge.
At the beginning of that famous winter, Washington estimated that one in three soldiers did not even wear shoes, let alone warm clothing. There was little food to feed the troops. Nevertheless, Washington spent the winter training his men and by late spring, stronger than ever, continued the fight.
12. Washington returned to Mount Vernon after the war, but was recalled to public life in 1787 as president of the Constitutional Convention.
Washington strongly believed in a strong central government united under a single executive leader. Nevertheless, his quiet leadership style carried the day. James Monroe wrote: [Washington’s] Influence moved the government. ”
13. Washington was the only president twice to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College.
He established the first presidential cabinet with four offices: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, and Attorney General. Washington deliberately selected people for his Cabinet with very different views on many issues. He felt it was important to listen to and consider a wide range of opinions before making decisions, and cabinet meetings often resulted in heated debates.
14. George Washington never lived in Washington, D.C.
During President Washington’s time, the nation’s capital was first New York and then Philadelphia. George and Martha had a series of residences as president and first lady. In 1790, Congress passed the Settlement Act, which called for a permanent home in the capital, and Washington became deeply involved in the planning and construction of the new city.
15. Washington’s second inaugural address was just two paragraphs long, making it the shortest in history.
Part of the speech read as follows: “I am once again called upon by the voice of my country to discharge the office of Chief Magistrate. However, if I am found to have knowingly or knowingly violated that injunction, I may be subject to penalties (in addition to any constitutional penalties). To the condemnation of all those who bear witness to the solemn ceremony.”
16. George Washington shocked the world by refusing to serve a third term as president. His farewell address warned against the deep rifts between political parties in the developing world.
Speaker Notes: In his farewell address, Washington said: [political] It is a political party sufficient to make it the interest and duty of an enlightened people to prevent and suppress it. …It stirs up the community with baseless jealousies and false alarms, enflames one section against another, and occasionally incites riots and rebellions. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, and finds easier access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. ”
17. Washington died of a throat infection in December 1799 at the age of 67. He died and was buried at his home in Mount Vernon.
Three different doctors were called to treat Washington, but medical treatment at the time was harsh and likely hastened his death. Doctors took blood four times, four cups at a time. They also created a “blister” in his throat and administered cough syrup, which nearly caused him to suffocate.
18. It is a superstition that George Washington’s dentures were made of wood. Instead, they were made from materials such as human teeth, ivory, and silver.
Whenever Washington had to have a tooth removed, he would save it in hopes of later using it to make dentures. When he died, only one natural tooth remained in his jaw.
19. The story about Washington cutting down his father’s cherry tree is a myth made up by one of his first biographers.
Speaker Notes: This biography was written by Mason Locke Weems and was a popular bestseller for many years. Abraham Lincoln remembers reading this book when he was young.
20. Although Washington had no children of his own, he is often referred to as the Father of the Nation.
Speaker Notes: Washington had already earned this nickname in 1775, when Henry Knox told Washington, “The people of America look up to you as a father.” The term was first used in print in 1778. Washington’s influence and leadership helped the 13 colonies become one unified nation.