25 Fascinating Facts About George Washington

Posted by , Updated on March 21, 2024

Did you know that before leading the charge against the British, he was initially fighting on their side? Here are 25 fascinating facts about George Washington that may surprise you.

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25

He started school at 6 years old and left at 15 to become a surveyor because his family was too poor to afford education

facts about george washington
24

At 26 he married Martha Custis who already had two children. Washington never had any kids of his own

facts about george washington
23

At 6 ft 2 in and 200 pounds he was one of the biggest presidents

facts about george washington
22

He had numerous toothaches so when he was 57 he had all his teeth pulled and from then on he wore false teeth

facts about george washington
21

Research performed on a set of Washington’s dentures in 2005 showed they were made of gold, ivory, lead, and human and animal teeth

facts about george washington
20

Before fighting against the British he actually fought for the British against the French in Ohio and lost

facts about george washington
19

He actually lost most of his battles and according to some sources he was the losingest victorious general in modern history

facts about george washington
18

Many myths about George, including the one about the cherry tree can be traced back to a biography written by Parson Weems shortly after Washington died. Weems was known for telling tall tales

facts about george washington
17

Washington is the richest president ever and in today's dollars his assets would be worth roughly $500 million

facts about george washington
16

At 67 years old Washington came down with a cold and was dead within 48 hours. It has been theorized that he died due to medical malpractice as he was subject to four rounds of bloodletting

facts about george washington
15

Washington came out of retirement to lead the nation's military in 1798 against the French

facts about george washington
14

Washington made a style of whiskey we would consider "moonshine" today, which is why there are so many rumors about him being a moonshiner

facts about george washington
13

He paid taxes, however, and had a license, so he was actually considered a distiller

facts about george washington
12

At one point in time his distillery produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey in one year

facts about george washington
11

He also grew hemp as a cash crop

facts about george washington
10

But it's not what you think, many farmers in that day grew and sold hemp because it was used to make rope, paper, and other products

facts about george washington
9

Washington was actually quite an agricultural innovator and supposedly introduced the idea of crop rotation

facts about george washington
8

He also allegedly introduced mules to America when he bred donkeys from the King of Spain with his own horses

facts about george washington
7

In a 2012 poll in Great Britain, General Washington was voted as the greatest military enemy to face the Empire–beating out even Napoleon

facts about george washington
6

He is the only president in American history to be unanimously elected to office

facts about george washington
5

He didn't have a middle name

facts about george washington
4

He didn't wear a wig. That's real hair in all of his pictures

facts about george washington
3

He was made an honorary citizen of France in 1792

facts about george washington
2

He is the only president to have actually gone into battle while serving as president

facts about george washington
1

In 1976 he was posthumously rewarded the highest rank in the American military ever…General of the Armies of the United States

facts about george washington