George Washington has many ties to the state of Virginia. There are many other interesting things about him as the nation celebrates his birthday as a federal holiday.
George Washington's birthday
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. However, his birthday was set back 11 days when the colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar. Washington preferred the original 2-22. Today, his birthday is celebrated as a federal holiday on the third Monday in February no matter which date it falls on.
George Washington's characteristics
George Washington was 6′ 2″ tall. He was taller than most of his colleagues. He weighed around 220 pounds. He had grey-blue eyes and long reddish-brown hair. Instead of wearing a powdered wig, he wore his hair curled, powdered, and tied in a queue in the fashion of his day.
George Washington's education
Washington is the only major founding father without a college education. He left school at age 15 because his family couldn't afford college.
Washington's odd jobs
Washington was a tobacco and wheat farmer, a surveyor of Culpeper County in the Colony of Virginia, and a slave owner.
Washington's teeth
Washington frequently suffered from severe tooth decay and ultimately lost all his teeth except one. He had several sets of false teeth, but none of them were made of wood. They were made of metal, ivory, bone, animal teeth, and human teeth from slaves.
Washington's presidencies
When George Washington became president in 1789, there were only 11 US states. He never actually ran for president. He was drafted by popular demand twice for his two terms. He refused to accept a salary as president and even spent some of his own money to pay the salaries of cabinet ministers and other members of the executive branch.
Washington made the plans for the District of Columbia and the White House, but he never lived in the city or in the White House. His inaugurations took place in New York and Philadelphia, the capital cities at that time.
Washington added the phrase “So help me God” to the end of the Presidential Oath of Office during his inauguration, and it has been delivered in that manner ever since. It was his idea to the call the chief executive “Mr. President.”
Washington's hobbies
Washington was a talented equestrian. He collected thoroughbreds at Mount Vernon, Virginia. He enjoyed hunting foxes, deer, ducks, and other game. He was an excellent dancer and frequently attended the theater. He drank alcohol in moderation, smoked tobacco, gambled, and used profanity. There is no proof that George Washington actually chopped down the cherry tree.
Washington's religion
Washington was baptized as an infant in April 1732 and became a devoted member of the Anglican Church. He served more than 20 years as a vestryman. He privately prayed and read the Bible daily, and publicly encouraged people and the nation to do the same. He frequently quoted from the Bible or paraphrased it in his speeches.
Washington's slaves
Slavery was once legal in all of the Thirteen Colonies. Washington inherited 10 slaves when he was only 11 years old from his father's will. At one time, he owned and rented enslaved African Americans. During his lifetime, over 577 slaves lived and worked for him at Mount Vernon where he owned 50,000 acres of land. He inherited 84 slaves when he married Martha when she was 27 and he was 26.
Washington's namesakes
Many places and monuments have been named in honor of Washington, most notably Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and the state of Washington, the only U.S. state to be named after a president.
Washington appears as one of four U.S. presidents on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
A number of secondary schools and universities are named in his honor, including George Washington University and Washington University in St. Louis.
Almost every major city in the United States has a Washington Street.
George Washington's death and burial
On the evening of December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon, George Washington passed away because of a throat infection. He was buried four days later in the family vault at Mount Vernon where his family members were also buried.