George Washington: the record and the legends

Father of His Country. The 1st president, 1789-1797, from Virginia. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 1st
In office: 1789-1797
Home state: Virginia
Party: No party
Height: 6'2"

The record

RecordAt the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, Washington was 23. Four bullets went through his coat and two horses were killed under him, and he came out without a scratch. He wrote home about it himself.Source: Mount Vernon, Washington's letter to John A. Washington, July 18, 1755
RecordIn 1773, guests at Mount Vernon were seeing who could throw an iron bar farthest across the lawn. Washington walked over, didn't even take his coat off, and threw it past every mark. Then he told them he'd try again when they beat it.Source: Mount Vernon, Remarkably Robust and Athletic
RecordIn 1783, unpaid officers were plotting against Congress. Washington pulled out a pair of glasses in front of them, something few had ever seen, and said he'd gone gray and nearly blind serving his country. The plot fell apart.Source: Miller Center, Washington: Life Before the Presidency

The legends

LegendYoung George chops down the cherry tree and says he cannot tell a lie. It never happened. A biographer named Mason Locke Weems made it up for an 1806 edition of his book, seven years after Washington died.Source: Mount Vernon, The Cherry Tree Myth
LegendWooden teeth? Never. By 1789 he had one tooth of his own left, and his dentures were made of human and animal teeth, ivory and metal. They probably just stained dark with time.Source: Mount Vernon, The Wooden Teeth Myth

What he cared about

Putting the new country's money on solid ground. He signed the charter for a national bank in 1791.
Staying out of the war between Britain and France, even with his own cabinet split over it.
Showing that power can be handed over peacefully. He gave up command of the army, and then the presidency after two terms.

The full record

Washington enslaved people his whole adult life, and his will freed the 123 people he owned only after Martha's death. As president, he sent the army that forced Native nations out of the Ohio Valley.

How he fights in POTUS KO

A strongman's grip and a general's patience

Washington lost more battles than he won and still won the war. He kept his army alive, let the enemy overreach, then struck when it counted, like crossing the Delaware on Christmas night. In the ring he gives ground, then turns your charge into his throw.

See POTUS KO

Questions about George Washington

Did George Washington chop down a cherry tree?

Young George chops down the cherry tree and says he cannot tell a lie. It never happened. A biographer named Mason Locke Weems made it up for an 1806 edition of his book, seven years after Washington died.

Did George Washington have wooden teeth?

Wooden teeth? Never. By 1789 he had one tooth of his own left, and his dentures were made of human and animal teeth, ivory and metal. They probably just stained dark with time.

Was George Washington ever hit in battle?

At the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, Washington was 23. Four bullets went through his coat and two horses were killed under him, and he came out without a scratch. He wrote home about it himself.