- George Washington had to borrow money to go to his own inauguration.
- George Washington who commanded the Continental Army as a four-star general was promoted posthumously to the position of six-star "General of the Armies of Congress" by an order of Jimmy Carter, who felt America's first President should also be America's highest military official.
- When George Washington was elected President, there was a king in France, a czarina in Russia, an emperor in China, and a shogun in Japan. Only the office of President remains.
- Washington was the first President to appear on a postage stamp.
- Washington was one of two Presidents that signed the U.S. Constitution.
- George Washington was a half first cousin twice removed of James Madison, a second cousin seven times removed of Queen Elizabeth II, a third cousin twice removed of Robert E. Lee, and an eighth cousin six times removed of Winston Churchill.
- Washington was the only president elected unanimously, receiving all 69 of the electoral
votes cast.
At his inauguration, Washington had only one tooth. At various times he wore dentures
made of human or animal teeth, ivory or lead -- never wood.
- Washington refused to wear a powdered wig, which was high fashion in the late 1700s.
Instead, he powdered his red-brown hair and ties it in a short braid down his back.
Washington carried a portable sundial.
Washington's inauguration speech was 183 words
long and took 90 seconds to read. This was because of his false teeth.
The six white horses in Washington's stables had their teeth brushed every morning on Washington's orders.
The nation's capital was located in Philadelphia during Washington's administration making him the only
president who didn't live in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.
Washington loved to help fight fires.
Washington's favorite sport was fox hunting.
- George Washington was born on February 11, 1731. Over twenty years later, in 1752, Great Britain and its American colonies
switched calendars from Julian to Gregorian. This switch eliminated eleven days from September of that year: September 2 was followed
by September 14. At the same time, New Year's Day was changed from March 25 to January 1. Since then, historians have said that
Washington was born in 1732, and the anniversary of his birth has been celebrated on February 22.
- Washington's face was scarred from smallpox.
Washington was the first man in American history to be a Lieutenant
General.
Washington was the only president to die in the 1700s.
- George Washington had two ice cream freezers installed at his home in Mount Vernon.
- George Washington left no direct descendant. Though his wife Martha had four children by a previous marriage., Washington never sired a child to continue his line.
- He was probably named after George Eskridge, a lawyer in whose charge Washington's mother had been left when she was orphaned.
- Washington once issued an order that forbade swearing throughout the U.S. Army.
- Washington wore size thirteen boots.
- Lots of things happened to Washington on Fridays. It was on a Friday that he:
was born
was commissioned lieutenant colonel in the military
took command of the Army of Virginai
was elected Commander-in-Chief
established the US Marine Corps
fought the Battle of Princeton
won the Battle of Yorktown
was elected President of the Constitutional Convention
created the War Department
appointed his first cabinet officer, Alexander Hamilton
established the Federal seat of government
proclaimed Thanksgiving
laid the cornerstone of the White House
completed his last presidential term
accepted his second commission as Commander-in-Chief
- Washington used to take a boat from Mount Vernon to Washington D.C. to get to work.
- He would often get his "e's" and "i's" mixed up, he would spell words like blue as blew, and oil as oyl.
- Washington's IQ was estimated to be about 125.
- He was a very loud snorer.
