George Washington is a larger-than-life figure. And he's everywhere we look, from the Washington Monument to the one-dollar bill.
Despite that, most people don't know what Washington was REALLY like. Check out this side of the
first president you never knew!
1
The portrait of George Washington on the one-dollar bill comes from an unfinished portrait containing only his face, called the Athenaeum Portrait.-u/piponwa
2
The mammoth jack is a huge breed of donkey developed in the US. A pet project of George Washington and its ears can be 33 inches-u/KnightofForestsWild
3
In Hawaiian Shinto shrines, George Washington is worshiped as a kami.-deleted user
4
The Founding Fathers had a love for ice cream. Thomas Jefferson crafted an 18-step recipe for vanilla ice cream that is housed in the Library of Congress. George Washington was said to have spent $200 on ice cream in the summer of 1790.-u/ronache_9
5
The "first blow" of the Seven Years War was triggered by a 21-year-old Colonel and his ambush squad that attempted (and failed) to drive out French forces from the Ohio Valley. The newly appointed officer was none other than future president George Washington.-deleted user
6
George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11, 1731 according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved Washington's birthday a year and 11 days to February 22, 1732.-u/thisisnprnews
7
George Washington never wore a wig. He was a natural redhead and powdered it white to look more fashionable.-u/blindsniperx
8
George Washington was essentially killed by his doctors. Due to them draining 40% of his blood ultimately leading to his death.-u/ComplexIngenuity11
9
George Washington's official portrait has a spelling error: one of the books in the painting is titled "Laws and Constitution of the United S-a-t-e-s"-u/SettyDub
10
The Russian victory over Napoleon using attrition warfare was inspired by George Washington's victory over the British in the American Revolution.-u/Bergdorf0221
11
In 1830, an attempt was made to steal the skull from the remains of American president George Washington, which resided in a tomb at Mount Vernon. However, the thief mistakenly stole the skull of Supreme Court Justice Bushrod Washington, who also happened to be the former Washingtons Nephew-u/FranklinDRoosevelt32
12
During his lifetime, George Washington owned almost every group of dog currently recognized by the American Kennel Club. Many of his dogs had interesting names too, such as: Madame Moose, Truelove, Tipsy, Mopesy, and Ragman.-u/jesuisdeepak
13
George Washington declined to run for a third term of office because he believed his death in office would create an image of a lifetime appointment. The precedent of a two-term limit was created by his retirement from office.-u/sober_disposition
14
George Washington was an imposing figure at over 6 feet tall and 225 pounds. The average man at the time was only 5'6".-u/TheManInTheShack
15
When George Washington died, Napoleon Bonaparte of France gave a personal eulogy and ordered a ten-day mourning period for France.-u/theirishcoffeemaker
16
During the Revolution, British Capt. Patrick Ferguson refused an opportunity to shoot a passing American officer in the back. Historians say there's a very good chance that the officer was George Washington. Ferguson was later killed at the battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina.-u/p38-lightning
17
George Washington instituted a system of review at Mount Vernon to prevent his slaves from being whipped frequently. He generally preferred admonition for disobedience and incentives for good work. Slaves would occasionally receive cash payments for good behavior.-u/sneedsformerlychucks
18
George Washington decorated most of the rooms at Mount Vernon, while his wife Martha only designed her private bedchamber.-u/valandsend
19
George Washington's salary as a US President was 2% of the total US budget at that time.-u/thatWhiteBear
20
In 1786, the President of the Continental Congress wrote on behalf of the U.S. government to Prince Henry, younger brother of the Prussian king, Frederick the Great, and asked him to become King of the USA, but he refused. They also considered making George Washington King, but he also refused.-u/dustofoblivion123
21
When George Washington died in 1799, the British Royal Navy was ordered to lower their flags to half-mast. The London Morning Chronicle opined that ‘The whole range of history does not present to our view a character upon which we can dwell with such entire and unmixed admiration.-u/AnUnlikelyUsurper
22
George Washington moved his slaves in and out of Pennsylvania every 6 months to avoid them taking advantage of a law that meant slaves residing in the state longer than half a year could claim freedom-u/Lilybaum
23
In 1861, Japan had an illustrated history of America which depicted, among other things, John Adams stabbing a giant snake, and George Washington punching a Tiger.-u/notbobby125
24
George Washington borrowed The Law of Nations from the New York Society Library and didn't return it. Mount Vernon estate returned the book in 2010 (221 years overdue) after the Head librarian joked they were "not actively pursuing the overdue fines," but they would appreciate having it back.-u/Plazomicin
25
In order to set a precedent for the future of the office, George Washington chose to be called "Mr. President" instead of the senate proposed titles of "His Excellency" or "His Highness the President"-deleted user
