GEORGE WASHINGTON BORN IN VIRGINIA
Westmoreland County (JFK+50) While this past Monday was President's Day, one of the two POTUS we honored was actually born on February 22nd. The first President of the United States, George Washington, was born here in Westmoreland County in 1732.
General Washington was the unanimous choice of the congress to be commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
After leading his nation to victory, he was elected President of the
United States. After serving two terms, he retired to Mount Vernon.
The editors of the www.history.com discuss some little known facts about our 1st POTUS in a recent article. Following are a selection of these facts...
*GW's formal schooling ended when he was 11 years old
*GW did not have wooden teeth but did wear dentures
*GW was known as the 'Father of Our Country' but had no biological children
*GW was a huge dog lover, had many different breeds at Mt. Vernon
*GW owned slaves, stipulated their freedom in his will, but required them to stay on at Mt. Vernon until his wife, Martha, died
While historians rank the other POTUS honored on Presidents Day, Abraham Lincoln, Number 1, George Washington is close behind. Some might argue that the General should be first because without his leadership in war and peace, Lincoln would never had the opportunity to be president.
While many cities and counties in the United States are named in honor of Lincoln, our Nation's Capital bears the name WASHINGTON as does one of our 50 states.
SOURCES
"Biography of George Washington," George Washington's Mount Vernon, www.mountvernon.org/
"11 Little Known Facts About George Washington," history.com editors, February 17, 2020, www.history.com
Westmoreland County (JFK+50) While this past Monday was President's Day, one of the two POTUS we honored was actually born on February 22nd. The first President of the United States, George Washington, was born here in Westmoreland County in 1732.
George's first job was as a surveyor in the Shenandoah Valley at age 17. He served in the French and Indian War and was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses as well as the Continental Congress.
The editors of the www.history.com discuss some little known facts about our 1st POTUS in a recent article. Following are a selection of these facts...
*GW's formal schooling ended when he was 11 years old
*GW did not have wooden teeth but did wear dentures
*GW was known as the 'Father of Our Country' but had no biological children
*GW was a huge dog lover, had many different breeds at Mt. Vernon
*GW owned slaves, stipulated their freedom in his will, but required them to stay on at Mt. Vernon until his wife, Martha, died
While historians rank the other POTUS honored on Presidents Day, Abraham Lincoln, Number 1, George Washington is close behind. Some might argue that the General should be first because without his leadership in war and peace, Lincoln would never had the opportunity to be president.
While many cities and counties in the United States are named in honor of Lincoln, our Nation's Capital bears the name WASHINGTON as does one of our 50 states.
SOURCES
"Biography of George Washington," George Washington's Mount Vernon, www.mountvernon.org/
"11 Little Known Facts About George Washington," history.com editors, February 17, 2020, www.history.com
George Washington
Portrait by Charles Wilson Peale
Oil on Canvas
National Portrait Gallery
Photo by John White (2016)
