Top 10 Facts about George Washington

The Top Ten
1 In 1976 he was awarded the highest ranking in the Military (General of the Armies of the United States)

In 1976 Washington was posthumously awarded the highest rank in the U.S. military of all time. According to Air Force Magazine: When Washington died, he was a lieutenant general. But as the centuries passed, this three-star rank did not seem commensurate with what he had accomplished. After all, Washington did more than defeat the British in battle. Along the way he established the framework for how American soldiers should organize themselves, how they should behave, and how they should relate to civilian leaders. Almost every big decision he made set a precedent. He was the father of the U.S. military as well as the U.S. itself.

2 His teeth weren’t wooden

Contrary to popular belief Throughout his life, he had different sets of dentures. They were made of a variety of materials, including ivory, brass, horse teeth, and, yes, even human teeth, possibly from slaves. I can't imagine how bizarre they must have looked and there's no way they were comfortable to wear.

3 Washington is the only President to lead troops on the battlefield while in office

According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, "On September 19, 1794, George Washington became the only sitting U.S. president to personally lead troops in the field when he led the militia on a nearly month-long march west over the Allegheny Mountains to the town of Bedford."

4 George Washington sparked the French and Indian War/Seven Years War

As France and Britain fought for territory at the edges of the North American colonies, Virginia sided with the British. As an officer in the Virginia militia, Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley (now western Pennsylvania) with some 150 troops, to help repel any attacks by the French. Warned by local Native American allies that a small French force has set up camp within several miles of his position, he led an attack with 40 of his soldiers, along with a dozen native warriors. the disastrous skirmish quickly escalated into a broader conflict. In the aftermath of the "Jumonville affair," the French accused Washington of having led an unprovoked attack against the French during peacetime, claiming that Jumonville and his men had diplomatic, not military, orders. For his part, Washington maintained the diplomacy claim was just a ruse, and that his attack was justified to defend his forces from French aggressions.

5 His birthday was actually February 11, 1731

George Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731, not on February 22, 1732. When Washington was born, England and its colonies followed the Julian calendar, which was instituted in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar. By that calendar, Washington was born on Feb. 11, 1731. In 1752, England switched to the Gregorian calendar, which is still used today. It's according to that calendar that he was born February 22, 1732, which is the date that most people know as Washington's birthday

6 Washington held the Title of Commander in Chief after he was President

Washington actually held the presidential title of Commander in Chief long after he was no longer president. John Adams appointed him to the position in 1798. Unbeknownst to the former president, George Washington didn't do that much, the title was apparently a recruitment stunt to try to use Washington's name to attract more soldiers. Apparently Washington wasn't told about what was going on in the army when he held the position

7 He did not wear a wig

Believe it or not, Washington's hair was real. Unlike many of his time, he didn't wear a wig, but he did liberally powder his hair to make it white. And that perfectly coiffed hairstyle? It was actually a style favored by military officers, and it require quite a bit of work to put together though

8 George Washington never went to college

When George Washington's father died in 1743, there was little money left to support the formal education of 11-year-old George. Washington's formal schooling ended by the time he was 15, but his pursuit of knowledge continued throughout his life. He mostly educated himself he read to become a better soldier, farmer, and president; he corresponded with authors and friends in America and Europe; and he exchanged ideas that fed the ongoing agricultural, social, and political revolutions of his day.

9 Washington was actually extremely unhealthy

Washington was one of the most unhealthy presidents ever. He suffered from numerous illnesses, including diphtheria, tuberculosis, smallpox, dysentery, malaria, tonsillitis, carbuncle, pneumonia, and epiglottitis. It doesn't seem right considering this was the same guy that was a hero in the American Revolution. It's actually incredible that he fought through a lot of that stuff especially since healthcare back then wasn't exactly great. On top of that Washington may have also been infertile. His wife Martha already had four children from a previous marriage, but the presidential couple never had children of their own. Modern scientists speculate that he may have been rendered infertile due to an infection linked to the tuberculosis that he suffered as a child.

10 Washington did not have a middle name

Yeah surprisingly enough middle names weren't common until the 19th century. Only 5 of the first 20 US Presidents actually have a middle name not a huge deal but still worth noting. I mean with a name like George Washington you really don't need a middle name

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