Today is President’s Day, a day originally meant to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. To celebrate, we compiled a few fun facts about America’s first president.
Fact One: George Washington Began His Career as A Surveyor
Due to the land being new to 18th Americans who arrived, surveyors were needed to examine the land and to construct important documentation about the land such as making a map or recording vegetation. This is the profession that Washington began his career and no doubt proved useful during his career as a military general by keeping a key eye on the land.
Fact Two: Washington Began His Military Career during the French and Indian War
During the 1750s, a war broke out with the British and colonial America opposing the French and Indians. It was during this war that Washington began his military career, being assigned a post at Great Meadows. He attacked Fort Duquesne and in retaliation, the French sieged his post. Washington surrendered and was later released back to Williamsburg.
Fact Three: Washington Kept Many Dogs and Gave Them Awesome Names
Washington was an avid dog lover and kept many dogs throughout his life as well as many different types of breeds. He “ […] kept almost every breed recognized today by the American Kennel Club, ” while he was alive according to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. He gave them such names as Sweetlips, Madame Moose, Tipsy, Mopsey, Truelove, and Ragman. There is nothing not to love about this.
Fact Four: Washington Was Elected Without Opposition
Due to his well-regarded reputation, Washington was elected into the presidency without any opposition. In many ways he was an ideal candidate; he lacked his own lineage so there was no worry of establishing an American monarchy, he proved his leadership abilities many times over, and his integrity in not abusing power.
Fact Five: Washington Did Not Want the Presidency
Washington hated the idea of being president. He believed it would devour “all expectations of private happiness in this world,” if he accepted the position. In general, it is well known that he detested politics. The only reason he accepted the position was “[…] the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be [their] desire,” or, in other words, because his colleagues begged him to become president. After his second term, he believed the government was secure enough to stand without his leadership and he stepped down from office and retired from public life. He preceded to die three years later.
Those are DeKalb County Online’s five facts about George Washington. Are there any facts about George Washington you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment.
Written by Claudia Piwowarczyk
Citations:
“10 Things You Ought to Know About George Washington” by mountvernon.org
“George Washington: The Reluctant President” by Ron Chernow in the Smithsonian Magazine
“George Washington” by Biography.com Editors
“Soldier, Statesman, Dog Lover: George Washington’s Pups” by mountvernon.org
“Surveying Career” by mountvern.org
“Transcript of President George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)” hosted on Our Documents
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