Skip to main content

Fun Facts on George Washington

On this day in 1732, the future father of the United States was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.

Below are a few interesting facts you may not know about Washington (1732-1799).

  • Washington adopted his wife's son and daughter from her previous marriage. He never fathered children of his own.
  • He lost more battles than he won throughout his military career.
  • Contrary to popular belief, he never had wooden teeth, though he did wear a series of dentures made from metal and cow or hippopotamus bone.
  • He was known for his quiet confidence. Others felt he had an uncanny ability to remain cool under pressure.
  • He loved cricket, fox-hunting, and dancing.
  • After leaving office, he started what became the largest whiskey distillery in the new nation.
  • The love of his life was not Martha Washington, but Sally Fairfax, the wife of his friend George. In a letter he wrote to her toward the end of his life, he confessed that his moments with her had been the happiest of his life. 
  • Washington remained humble throughout his life. When he became president, he preferred not to be called "his excellency," as it seemed to evoke images of monarchy. Instead, he opted for the more modest "Mr. President." In his will, he humbly identified himself as "George Washington of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

The 1 good thing cheaters do for us

Nothing good could come of a relationship marred by infidelity, right? The heartache, the shock, the feeling of one's trust being violated.  In the short-term, being cheated on can turn one's world upside down. But eventually, there may be a light awaiting the cheated at the end of the tunnel.  If you really think about it, cheaters end up doing us a huge favor.  In their selfishness and disloyalty, they end up showing us that we deserve better.  If you're so unfortunate as to be a victim of such acts of betrayal, you can only hope the cheater is considerate enough to own up to their missteps.  But we all know full well that, in many cases, the cheater is either caught in the act or leaves behind a trail of hints that ultimately culminates in their undoing. The more classy thing to do is to discuss their feelings openly with their partner before straying.  If all talks lead to an impasse or a further escalation of tensions, both parties should take it as a ...