Founding-est of Founding Fathers: President #1: George Washington!

44 fun facts of George Washington!

1.  Stats: Born Feb 22, 1732 (although it’s actually Feb 11--they changed from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar in Sept of 1752). Fun fact: I thought the calendar change came about 100 years earlier. 
2.  Married Martha Dandridge Custis on Jan 6, 1759. She had 2 children. 
3.  Formal education ended around age 15. He was not sent to England to learn like many planters children; his father had died, and there was not enough cash to send him abroad. He never learned another language. 
4.  Quick temper, possibly led to questionable military decisions. “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. 
5. Became county surveyor of Culpeper Co. VA at age 17. 
6.  George Washington’s first battle was the sparked the French-Indian war due to LtCol Washington surrendering and signing a statement in French (that he did not understand) that asserted he and his soldiers assassinated the French Commander (Joseph Coulon de Villiers). Washington denied the assassination until his death. 
7.  In 1758, Washington resigned his commission to return to Mount Vernon. 
8.  He farmed at Mount Vernon from 1759 until 1775. 
9.  His distillery produced over 11k gallons of rye whiskey and was one of his most successful ventures. 
10.  He put provisions into his will to free his own slaves. He was the only slaveholder Founding Father to free his slaves. He could not free the slaves that Martha brought to the marriage as they were owned by her widow. Those slaves would revert to the Custis estate.
11.  June 1775: was Commissioned to command the Continental Army. War blazed on for 8 years and despite the odds, in 1781, 
12. Washington ended the Revolutionary war at the Battle of Yorktown and accepting Cornwallis’ surrender. 
13.  Dec. 23, 1783 he resigned his commission once again and went back to Mount Vernon and had no intention of serving in public life again. 
14.  Washington wanted to join the Royal Navy, but his mother withheld her permission so he could continue to work on the farm. 
15.  Contracting Smallpox in Barbados in 1751 helped him survive the American Revolution due to immunity. 
16.  He was the only President to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral College. 
17.  He was frequently short on cash--most of his money was tied up in land holdings. In order to move to NYC for his Presidency, he had to borrow $600 to cover the cost of relocation from Mount Vernon.
18.  After relenting (he was uneasy being paid for public service) he was given an annual salary of $25,000.
19.  ...But then said it wasn’t enough to cover the costs of running his house and still paid out of pocket for things. 
20. He set the precedent for the roles of cabinet members. (you can see he wanted his close advisors to have varied perspectives by the fact he had both Jefferson and Hamilton on his cabinet). 
21. He holds the record for the Shortest inaugural address. His second inaugural address was 135 words. 
22.  Washington made the first Thanksgiving Proclamation--setting the date as Nov 26th. 
23. Judiciary act of 1789: This established a 6-member SCOTUS and Attorney General. 
24. Residence act of 1790: Set a permanent federal capital in what is now Washington DC. 
25. Bank Act of 1791: First bank of the US. 
26.  Excise Tax on Whiskey 1791: ultimately led to the Whiskey Rebellion. 
27.  Only President to go into battle while serving as Commander-In-Chief. Sept 19, 1794, he led troops on a march west over the Allegheny Mountains to the town of Bedford to resolve the rebellion. 
28.  Fugitive Slave act of 1793: Made it a federal crime to assist an escaping slave. This also created a system that would return the slave to their masters. 
29.  Naval act of 1794: Created the US Navy (and the construction of 6 frigates). 
30. In 1792 he was made an honorary Citizen of France. 
31.  He was posthumously awarded the highest rank in the Military. No one will ever outrank him. His title: General of the Armies of the United States. 
32.  He wasn’t very religious. “ According to biographer Barry Schwartz, Washington's "practice of Christianity was limited and superficial, because he was not himself a Christian.
33.  In the enlightened tradition of his day, he was a devout Deist--just as many of the clergymen who knew him suspected." 
34. He was a devoted member of the Anglican church and spent three terms as the churchwarden helping to care for the poor. 
35.  Varying reports as to whether or not he took communion. Some say he refused to participate, while others state he participated in Communion before taking control of the Continental Army, but not after. 
36.  He was a Freemason.  
37. Whether or not a devout Christian, he believed in caring for the poor. 
38.  The only of the founding fathers to not have a formal education. 
39.  He focused on allowing the country to grow and stay out of foreign wars. Intentionally or not, this set a standard for isolationism that lasted until the 20th Century. 
40. He established the principle of neutrality as engaging in the war in Europe would destroy the economy of the fledgling United States.
41.  He did not believe in political parties. 
42.  Despite the lingering myths, He did not chop down the cherry tree, have wooden teeth, or throw a silver dollar across the Potomac. 
43.  He did however, grow hemp. At the time it was used for thread for clothing, making rope, etc.
44. Man, the guy loved to dance. First hand accounts of his dancing stated he was extremely good at it and loved being the center of attention.
    
    
    
    
    All facts are from one of the following sources: Presidents Fact Book Revised and Updated (Matuz, 2009) http://mentalfloss.com/article/56532/25-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-george-washington
    http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/biography/