George Washington stands as the ultimate symbol of American independence and leadership. You likely know him as the first president or the general who crossed the Delaware River. However, his life contained far more strange and fascinating details than what history books usually cover. Beyond the battlefield, he was a master spy, an innovative farmer, and a dog lover with a sense of humor. Explore these intriguing details about the Father of His Country.
George Washington
Contrary to popular belief, his teeth were never made of wood. Instead, his dentures contained gold, lead, hippopotamus ivory, and even human teeth purchased from his slaves. Consequently, he suffered from dental pain for his entire adult life.
Surprisingly, he ran the largest whiskey distillery in America at Mount Vernon. By 1799, his facility produced 11,000 gallons of rye whiskey in a single year. Therefore, he was a highly successful businessman in addition to being a general.
He holds the highest military rank in United States history. In 1976, Congress posthumously promoted him to “General of the Armies of the United States.” This specific law ensures that no other officer can ever outrank George Washington.
Interestingly, George Washington is an honorary citizen of France. The French revolutionary government granted him this title in 1792 to honor his fight for liberty. Thus, he remains one of the few Americans to hold this unique dual status.
He famously bred the very first American mules. After the King of Spain gifted him a donkey named “Royal Gift,” he bred it with his horses. As a result, farmers across the nation adopted these strong animals for agriculture.
Humorously, he borrowed a library book and did not return it for 221 years. He checked out The Law of Nations from the New York Society Library in 1789. Finally, his estate returned a replacement copy in 2010 to settle the debt.
George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence. While the Continental Congress signed the document in Philadelphia, he was in New York commanding troops. Therefore, his signature is missing from one of the most important papers in history.
Physically, he had red hair and never wore a wig. Although portraits show him with white hair, he simply powdered his own natural hair to look fashionable. In reality, he pulled his reddish-brown locks back into a queue every morning.
Miraculously, George Washington survived four bullet holes in his coat during one battle. In the French and Indian War, he rode two horses that were shot out from under him. Nevertheless, he emerged from the chaos completely unharmed.
Affectionately, he helped create the American Foxhound dog breed. He loved hunting and bred his dogs to be faster and stronger than English hounds. He even gave them funny names like Sweet Lips, Tipsy, and Drunkard.
Tragically, his doctors likely hastened his death. When he fell ill with a throat infection, they drained forty percent of his blood to cure him. Unfortunately, this aggressive bloodletting weakened him too much to recover.
Unlike other Founding Fathers, he never attended college. His father died when he was young, so he could not afford a formal education. Instead, he obtained his surveyor’s license at age 17 to start earning money.
He acted as a master of espionage during the Revolutionary War. He created the Culper Ring, a network of spies who used invisible ink and codes. Crucially, their secret intelligence helped him defeat the British forces.
Sadly, he could not have biological children. Most historians believe a bout of tuberculosis in his youth left him infertile. However, he lovingly raised two of his wife’s grandchildren as his own.
Finally, his presidential salary was two percent of the total national budget. Although he initially tried to refuse payment, Congress insisted he take the $25,000 salary. Today, that amount would be worth millions of dollars.
