19 George Washington facts everyone should know

The man, the myth, the legend

He’s on the dollar bill, has America's capital city named after him, and led a revolution – but how well do you really know George Washington? From battlefield innovations and a fear of being buried alive to his unexpected cause of death, these intriguing facts reveal the more surprising, human side of America’s first president.

Read on to discover 19 facts about George Washington every American should know...

One of his most famous quotes is complete fiction

The cherry tree myth is one of the most famous legends about Washington. As a boy, he supposedly used a hatchet to damage his father’s cherry tree. When confronted, he confessed, saying, "I cannot tell a lie." Far from punishing him, his father was delighted with his honesty.

Unfortunately, this charming tale was entirely fabricated by early biographer Mason Locke Weems in the fifth edition of his 1806 book, The Life of Washington. Weems aimed to present Washington as a flawless moral figure, and the story became a lasting part of American folklore... despite being a lie. The irony.

He started his career measuring land, not making laws

When Washington’s father died suddenly, the 11-year-old’s hopes for a full formal education disappeared with him. Unlike his older half-brothers – who were sent to England to study – George relied on lessons from local tutors and possibly a small school in Fredericksburg.

But he made it count. He studied reading, writing, geometry, and trigonometry – practical tools that set him up for his first job as a land surveyor at 17. Over the next three years, Washington completed nearly 200 surveys, measuring more than 60,000 acres across Virginia.

He contracted smallpox in Barbados (and it may have saved his life)

In 1751, 19-year-old Washington took his one and only trip abroad – to sunny Barbados. He and his half-brother rented the upstairs of a house owned by a British officer named Crofton, now preserved as the George Washington House (pictured).

The tropical getaway turned rough when George caught smallpox, spending weeks battling fever and chills. The experience may have saved his life years later when smallpox swept through his army during the Revolutionary War. Washington, already immune, stayed standing.

He aged a year and 11 days overnight

George Washington was born on February 11, 1731 under the Julian calendar, used in Britain at the time. When Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, 11 days were dropped, shifting his birthday to February 22. Additionally, the calendar change moved the start of the new year from March to January, so his birth year also changed from 1731 to 1732 – a rare case of historical time travel via calendar reform.

He helped spark a global war

In 1754, as an ambitious but inexperienced 22-year-old lieutenant colonel, Washington led a surprise attack on a French patrol at Jumonville Glen in Pennsylvania – an ambush that set off a chain of events that led to the French and Indian War. These clashes became part of a broader, global conflict between European powers that would come to be known as the Seven Years' War. Oops.

His icy gamble helped save the American Revolution

Washington had a talent for turning the tide in the fight for independence from Britain. One of his boldest moves came on the night of December 25, 1776, when he led nearly 2,500 troops across the icy Delaware River. Braving treacherous conditions, they marched 10 miles to launch a surprise attack on enemy forces at Trenton.

Without losing a single man in battle, they captured nearly 1,000 prisoners, reviving the revolutionary cause. Five years later, Washington pulled off another masterstroke at Yorktown, leading a campaign that brought the Revolutionary War to a close.

He carried an 18th-century laptop into battle

Long before email, Washington had his own mobile office: a writing desk (pictured) that could easily be slipped into a saddle or travel bag. This compact wooden box folded out into a mini workspace, complete with ink, quills, and paper – perfect for dashing off orders while on the march. Think of it as the 18th-century answer to a laptop.

He was America's first spymaster

Long before he was president, Washington was rewriting the rules of war from the shadows. In the fall of 1778, during the Revolutionary War, he quietly launched one of the most daring intelligence operations of the era: a secret spy network in British-controlled New York.

He recruited Major Benjamin Tallmadge (pictured) to lead the Culper Spy Ring – everyday citizens trained in codenames and invisible ink. For nearly five years, not a single agent was exposed, and the intelligence they provided undoubtedly contributed to America's victory. Washington himself was known by the number 711.

He was an excellent horseman

Hailed by none other than Thomas Jefferson as "the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback," Washington was a talented equestrian, a skill put to good use during several battles in the Revolutionary War. 

His famous wartime mounts were Nelson and Blueskin, the former known for being the calmer and more reliable under fire. Animal lovers will be pleased to hear that both horses survived the war and went on to retire at Washington's Mount Vernon estate.

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He built a profitable whiskey business

Modern entrepreneurs take note: in addition to being a Revolutionary War hero, Founding Father, and the first president, Washington also found time to build a whiskey distillery on his Mount Vernon estate in 1797. By 1799, it was producing around 11,000 gallons annually, making it one of the largest commercial distilleries in early America.

Researchers later uncovered Washington’s original recipe: 60% rye, 35% corn, and 5% malted barley. Today, a fully functioning reconstruction of the distillery stands at Mount Vernon.

He didn't actually want to be president

Washington wasn't exactly overjoyed to be elected president. Just weeks before his inauguration in 1789, he wrote that he felt like "a culprit who is going to the place of his execution," admitting he would have preferred to enjoy a quiet life at Mount Vernon.

But with pressure from leaders like Alexander Hamilton and widespread national support, he agreed to serve, viewing the presidency as a solemn responsibility. Pictured is Charles Thomson, Clerk of Congress, arriving to deliver the news.

He remains the only unanimously elected president

George Washington remains the only US president ever to be elected unanimously – not once, but twice. In the very first presidential election of 1788-89, all 69 electors cast at least one of their votes for him, making his victory absolute.

Four years later he repeated the feat with all 132 electoral votes in his favor. No other president has come close. Washington's widespread support reflected a rare national consensus – there were no formal political parties yet, and his leadership was overwhelmingly trusted.

When he was inaugurated in 1789, he had only one tooth

By the time Washington became president, he had just one lonely tooth left in his mouth. Forget the wooden dentures myth though: his false teeth were far stranger, made from a mix of hippopotamus ivory, human teeth, and animal teeth, along with lead, brass, and gold.

He wore several sets over the years, all famously uncomfortable. One ill-fitting pair reportedly pushed his lips outward so much that they distorted his face. Pictured is the only remaining set, in the collection at Mount Vernon.

He set presidential precedents

George Washington created the rulebook for US presidents – and with deliberate humility. Amid congressional debate over what to call the new executive, Washington rejected lofty titles like "His Highness" and instead accepted the modest, democratic title "Mr President." 

Perhaps most significantly, he voluntarily stepped down after two terms, setting a powerful example of civilian leadership that would later be codified in the 22nd Amendment. His choices shaped the presidency not as a throne, but as a position of service.

He never lived in the White House

What does every former US president have in common? They all lived in one of the most iconic residences on Earth, the White House, right? Not quite.

Although Washington selected the site and approved the design, the building – then known as the Executive Mansion – was still under construction when he left office in 1797. That made John Adams, the second president, the first to actually call 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home.

He had no biological children

Though Washington never had biological children of his own, he was a father (and not just of the founding variety). When he married Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759, he became stepfather to two children from her first marriage: John and Martha, known as Jacky and Patsy.

Contemporary accounts describe him as a loving and attentive stepfather, a reputation reflected in the letters of those close to the household. The family suffered deeply – Patsy died of epilepsy at 17 and Jacky passed away due to illness during the Revolutionary War. Following Jacky’s death, George and Martha raised two of his children – Nelly and George (pictured).

He had quite the hair routine

Despite what portraits suggest, George Washington didn’t have white hair – and he didn’t wear a wig. His natural hair was light brown, but to stay fashionable he went through the daily ritual of powdering it white. Washington styled and tied back his own hair, then applied white powder to give it the distinguished look we now associate with 18th-century statesmen. It was part style, part status, and all real.

He died of a throat infection

In an abrupt end to an iconic life, Washington died on December 14, 1799 – just two days after developing a sore throat following a ride in wet weather. What began as mild hoarseness quickly escalated into a severe throat infection that left him struggling to breathe.

Doctors treated him using the standard methods of the time, including bloodletting, blistering, and induced vomiting. Despite their efforts, Washington died at home at Mount Vernon aged 67, with his family by his side.

He was scared of being buried alive

In his final hours, Washington’s thoughts turned not to politics, but to a deeply personal concern: his burial. Fear of premature burial was common in the 18th century, and Washington clearly shared it.

He instructed his secretary Tobias Lear: "Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead." When Lear nodded, Washington pressed, "Do you understand?" Only after receiving a clear reply did he rest, uttering his final words: "'Tis well."

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