George Washington: 10 Facts Every American Should Know

He could have been king. He chose to go home. Ten facts about George Washington every American should know.

1. He Was Offered a Crown — and Refused It

In 1782, Colonel Lewis Nicola wrote to Washington proposing that he become King of America. Washington's reply was swift and unequivocal — he found the idea "painful" and warned that no one could be more opposed to it. When he voluntarily surrendered command of the Continental Army in 1783 and stepped down from the presidency after two terms, King George III reportedly said he would be the greatest man in the world.

2. His Teeth Were Not Wooden

Washington did suffer severe dental problems throughout his life and wore dentures, but those dentures were never made of wood. They were constructed from human teeth, cow and horse teeth, elephant and walrus ivory, and metal alloys. The wood myth likely arose from the ivory's wood-like grain as it aged and stained.

3. He Was a Surveyor Before He Was a Soldier

Washington spent his teenage years as a working land surveyor in the Virginia frontier, beginning at age 16. The skill gave him a grasp of terrain that would serve him throughout the Revolutionary War.

4. He Lost More Battles Than He Won

Washington's military record was mixed by conventional metrics. He lost New York, Philadelphia, and numerous engagements. His genius was in keeping the army alive — retreating when he had to, striking when he could (Trenton, Princeton), and outlasting a British strategy that required quick victory.

5. He Set the Two-Term Precedent Voluntarily

Nothing in the Constitution limited Washington to two terms. He chose to step down in 1797 out of republican principle. That voluntary norm held for 150 years until FDR broke it, and was codified into law by the 22nd Amendment in 1951.

6. He Was One of the Wealthiest Men in America

Washington inherited land, married one of the wealthiest widows in Virginia, and accumulated more than 50,000 acres across multiple states by the end of his life. His net worth in today's terms is estimated at over $500 million.

7. He Freed His Enslaved People in His Will

Washington's will stipulated that his 123 enslaved people be freed upon the death of his wife Martha — the only Founding Father who did so. Martha freed them in 1800, a year before her own death.

8. His Farewell Address Is Still Read in the Senate Every Year

Washington's 1796 Farewell Address — warning against permanent foreign alliances, political factions, and regional sectionalism — is read aloud in the U.S. Senate every February 22 by alternating senators from both parties. The tradition has continued since 1862.

Browse our American Greatness collection including our George Washington canvas.

Frequently Asked Questions