He didn't have wooden teeth. Honestly, it’s one of those weird lies that just stuck. People think of George Washington and they picture a stiff guy in a white wig who couldn't tell a lie about a cherry tree. Most of that is total nonsense. The real George Washington was a lot more complicated, way more stressed out, and significantly more "human" than the stone-faced guy on your $1 bill.
He was a redhead. Or he was when he was younger, anyway. He never actually wore a wig; he just powdered his own hair until it looked white because that was the vibe in the late 1700s. He was also a massive guy for his time, standing around 6'2" and weighing 175 pounds of mostly muscle. If you met him today, he’d look like an athlete, not a dusty historical figure.
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The Financial Reality of the First US President
You’ve probably heard he was rich. He was, but he was also "asset rich and cash poor" for a huge chunk of his life. Basically, he owned a ton of land but often struggled to find actual coins to pay his bills. When he was heading to his own inauguration in New York, he actually had to borrow money from a neighbor just to make the trip. Imagine being the guy who just won the Revolution and you’re hitting up your buddies for gas money.
His wealth came from a few places.
- Surveying land (his first real job at 17).
- Marrying Martha Custis, who was a very wealthy widow.
- Aggressive land speculation in the West.
- Running a massive distillery at Mount Vernon that produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey a year.
By the time he died, his net worth was somewhere around $500 million to $700 million in today’s money. But he spent it as fast as it came in. He loved fine clothes, expensive Madeira wine, and hosting literally anyone who showed up at his door. He once complained that his house felt like a "well-resorted tavern" because so many strangers kept dropping by to eat his food.
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What Really Happened with the Presidency
Being the George Washington everyone expected was a "psychological straightjacket." That’s how some historians describe it. He knew every single thing he did would be a rule for everyone who came after him. He even worried about what people should call him. Some people wanted "His Highness" or "His Elective Majesty." He went with "Mr. President." Simple.
He didn't belong to a political party. In fact, he hated them. He thought they would tear the country apart, which, looking at the news lately, kinda feels like he was onto something. He spent most of his two terms trying to keep Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton from screaming at each other. It was basically like managing two geniuses who both thought the other was trying to destroy the world.
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The Teeth Situation (It's Grosser Than Wood)
Since we know they weren't wood, what were they?
They were a mix of ivory, brass, lead, and—this is the part that usually weirds people out—human teeth. Some of these were "purchased" from enslaved people at Mount Vernon. The dentures were held together by springs that were so tight he had to clench his jaw just to keep his mouth shut. That’s why he looks so grumpy in all his portraits. He wasn't necessarily mad; his mouth just hurt all the time.
The Side of George Washington Nobody Talks About
We usually skip over the fact that he was a world-class mule breeder. He basically introduced the mule to America because he wanted a stronger work animal for his farms. The King of Spain even sent him a prize donkey named "Royal Gift" to help with the project. He was also a bit of a nerd about crop rotation and soil health. If he hadn't been president, he probably would’ve just been a very successful, very intense farmer.
Then there’s the slavery issue. It's the biggest contradiction of his life. He was the only Founding Father who was a president to free the people he enslaved in his will. But he didn't do it while he was alive. He struggled with the morality of it in his letters but never used his massive political power to actually end the system. It’s a heavy, complicated part of his legacy that doesn't fit into a neat "hero" narrative.
How He Actually Died
He didn't die of old age. He died because he went out for a ride in the snow and rain, got a sore throat, and then his doctors basically finished him off. They used a "medical" technique called bloodletting. They took out about 40% of his blood in less than 24 hours. He was already weak from an infection (likely epiglottitis), and losing that much blood made it impossible for his body to fight back. He died on December 14, 1799, saying, "'Tis well."
Why the First US President Still Matters
Washington wasn't a perfect man, but he was the right man for a very specific, very dangerous moment. He had the chance to be a king. The army would’ve backed him. Instead, he walked away after two terms. That’s arguably the most important thing any American leader has ever done.
If you want to understand the man behind the myth, stop looking at the paintings. Look at his ledgers. Look at his frustrations. He was a guy who wanted to be home in Virginia but felt a crushing sense of duty to a country that was barely holding together.
Take Action: See It For Yourself
- Visit Mount Vernon (Virtually or In-Person): If you're near D.C., go. If not, their digital archives are incredible and show his actual handwritten letters.
- Read "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow: It’s long, but it’s the best way to see him as a human being instead of a statue.
- Check the $1 Bill: Look at his mouth. Now that you know about the springs and the ivory teeth, you'll never see that portrait the same way again.