Today in History: Three common misconceptions about America’s first president, George Washington
Since his inauguration as the USA’s first president on this day 229 years ago, a lot of misconceptions have come to light about George Washington. We’ve chosen three of our favourites…
Born in Westmoreland, Virginia, Washington joined the colonial militia during the early stages of the French-Indian war at an early age.
A year after joining, he was made commander-in-chief (CIC) of the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolution.
Following the Revolution he resigned as CIC to show his commitment to the idea of American republicanism.
He would be chosen to lead the Constitutional Convention to determine the new government’s form and was subsequently elected its first president.
Washington would serve two terms as president of the United States (1789–1793;1793–1797) during which he was pivotal in introducing the cabinet and forming a national bank as proposed by Alexander Hamilton.
Washington declined to govern for a third term and retired to his home in Mount Vernon where he died in 1799.
A lot has been speculated over Washington over the years, and here are three of our favourite common misconceptions:
1. Washington had wooden dentures
One of the most popular myths surrounding Washington, this has been disproven on a number of occasions. While he might have had some dentures that were stained and took on the colour of wood, he never actually had wooden dentures.
He did use a vast variety of materials for his dentures over the years however, which included human (and possibly cow and horse) teeth, ivory, lead-tin alloy, copper alloy and silver alloy.
2. Washington was the first president to reside in the White House
There are two problems with this. Firstly, at the time of his inauguration, Washington DC wasn’t the country’s capitol. Secondly, the White House wasn’t even built yet.
Instead, he lived in the Samuel Osgood house in New York City. Due it being too small, and the location inconvenient, the first family was moved to a house in lower Broadway in 1870, and again to a house in Philadelphia.
3. Washington grew ‘weed’ on his Mount Vernon property
While it must be admitted that Washington and his family did indeed grow hemp on the property, it was not for marijuana.
The hemp that they had grown on their property was for industrial use as its fibres are strong and often used for rope, sail canvas, clothing thread, and fishing nets.
Quick fact: The first version of the American flag we know today, was drafted on a hemp canvas (not necessarily from Washington’s crops).
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