U.S. PRESIDENTS (1732–1799); WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VA
George Washington served as the first president of the United States from age 57 in 1789 to age 65 in 1797 , but before that , he was known for his military leadership during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War . Other aspects of this Founding Father are less well - get it on — such as what his teeth were really made of and how his home of Mount Vernon was saved by an unconvincing group of adult female . Here are the facts you should cognise about George Washington .
1. George Washington’s military career began with the French and Indian War.
George Washington is known as one of the heroes of the American Revolution , but he actually lead off his military vocation as a member of theBritish armyin the colonies . In late 1753 , a 21 - year - old Washington was sent by Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie to rescue a message to Gallic troops engross the Ohio Valley demanding them to move out of the territory , which Britain claimed as its own . Gallic military commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint - Pierre , conceive his land had an " incontestable " right to the valley , resist . Washington was sent back to the realm in March 1754 — but this time it was as a Lieutenant Colonel leading around 160 militia scout group from Virginia , withDinwiddie orderingthat he " make prisoners of or vote out & destruct " any French who fight British control condition .
In May 1754 , Washington ledan attackon a camp of French troop , kill 13 , which help kickstart what would become the French and Indian War . A few week later , in July 1754 , Washington suffer his first high - profile military defeat after he was forced to surrenderFort Necessityto French and Native American forces .
2. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief.
Before he became president , George Washington served as commanding officer - in - headman of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War . Once a Modern authorities was established , Washington reckon of retirement , but his equal , advisors , and thepublic at largeurged him to consider running for the newly created position of chairman — no one was more respected at the time , and his counsel would be need for this new government to succeed .
Without enter inany public candidature , he won 69 out of 69 available electoral vote in the United States ’s first presidential election in1788(which extended into January 1789 ) , and John Adams , his stolon - up , would serve as his vice chairperson . But his military career did n’t stop there : George Washington becamethe onlysitting U.S. prexy to lead troops into struggle , doing so during theWhiskey Rebellionin 1794 .
3. George Washington and his wife Martha didn’t have biological children together.
George Washington is one of five U.S. presidents who never fatheredbiological nestling — the others admit James Polk , Warren Harding , James Buchanan , and Andrew Jackson . But his marriage ceremony to a wealthy widow named Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759 all but guaranteed he would n’t miss out on raising a house full of kids . In increase to being a stepfather to Martha’stwo childrenfrom her previous marriage , John Parke Curtis and Martha Parke Curtis , George Washington also help kindle her grandchildren , nieces , and nephew in their abode at Mount Vernon .
4. George Washington had no political party.
None of America ’s political parties can arrogate the country ’s first president as one of their own . George Washington remains theonly presidentin U.S. story that did n’t represent a political political party . It was only after he take office in 1789 that the Democratic Republicans began to egress as the opposition party in American political science , and their rivals became eff as the Federalists . As politics became more polarize , Washington avoid pick a side , publicly state that parties did more to divide the country that strengthen it .
5. George Washington’s wooden teeth are a myth.
One of the most common “ fact ” attached to George Washington — that he had wooden teeth — is a myth . Washington lose from dental issues throughout his adult life , and by the time he assumed the administration in1789 , only one of his original teeth remain in his mouth . The full sets of plate he initiate wearing after this point were made from a variety of material , perchance includingivory , sawbuck teeth , brass , silver metal , and real human teeth ( possiblyfrom slaves ) . Wood definitely was n’t used to make his false tooth , but after prolonged role , his dental plate may have been stained enough to expect wooden .
6. George Washington likely died from bloodletting at age 67.
On December 14 , 1799 , about two and a half years into George Washington ’s retirement , three doctors were call to the ex - president ’s sign to address him for a grievous sore throat . He had been outside in the common cold for most of the previous daytime and had refused to change out of hiswet clothesas to not keep his dinner guests hold off . The doctors surmise the illness was more serious than a cold , and they removed approximately five pint of line of descent from him upon the patient ’s asking . He died later on that day , his end likely because of the shock ofblood loss .
7. George Washington’s Mount Vernon home was saved from disrepair.
Before it was a major tourist attractive feature , George Washington ’s Mount Vernon rest home was in ruins . The subsequent proprietor of his Virginia estate struggle to keep it , and in the early 19th 100 , there was n’t yet agovernment agencydedicated to preserving historic internet site . A char named Louisa Bird Cunningham passed the property while journey down the Potomac River one night in 1853 and was dismay by its dilapidated state . She wrote in a letter of the alphabet to her daughter : “ If the men of the country wo n’t save Mount Vernon , the women should . ” Her girl , Ann Pamela Cunningham , form The Mount Vernon Ladies ' Association that yr , becoming the country ’s firsthistoric conservation organization . In 1858 , the group purchased Mount Vernon for $ 200,000 and repair it to its former glory .
Famous George Washington Quotes.
George Washington’s Famous Firsts.
