You probably think you know the guy. George Washington. The stoic face on the dollar bill with the powdered wig and the cherry tree obsession. Honestly, most of what we’re taught in grade school is a mix of legend, 18th-century PR, and flat-out tall tales.
But here’s the thing.
The real story of who was our first president of the United States is way more intense than the "marble statue" version. He wasn't some perfect, effortless hero. He was a guy with a massive temper, a history of losing battles, and a set of dentures that definitely weren't made of wood. Seriously, who would want wood in their mouth? It’s porous. It would rot.
The Man Behind the $1 Bill
Let’s get the basics out of the way. George Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia. He didn't go to college like Thomas Jefferson or John Adams. When his dad died, the family money sort of dried up for him, so he became a surveyor. Basically, he spent his teens trekking through the woods, sleeping in the dirt, and mapping out the wilderness.
It toughened him up.
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By the time the Revolution rolled around, he was the obvious choice to lead the Continental Army. Not because he was a tactical genius—spoiler: he actually lost more battles than he won—but because he was the only person everyone actually trusted. He had this presence. People just followed him.
What about those teeth?
You’ve heard they were wooden. They weren't. They were actually a terrifying mix of ivory, brass, and—this is the grim part—real human teeth. Some were even "purchased" from enslaved people at Mount Vernon. Because the dentures were so bulky and painful, they changed the shape of his face, which is why he looks so tight-lipped and grumpy in all those famous paintings. He wasn't necessarily miserable; his mouth just hurt.
Who Was Our First President of the United States? (The Policy Side)
When Washington took office in 1789, there was no "manual." The Constitution was a skeletal outline. He had to figure out everything from scratch. How do you address a president? Some people wanted "His Highness." Washington chose "Mr. President." Simple. Humble. Very much on purpose.
He also created the Cabinet. It wasn't in the Constitution. He just realized he couldn't do everything himself. He picked the best minds he knew, even if they hated each other. You had Alexander Hamilton at Treasury and Thomas Jefferson at State. Honestly, it was a disaster. They fought constantly. But Washington wanted to hear both sides. He was the "referee" of early American politics.
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Major wins (and some stress)
- The Whiskey Rebellion: Farmers in Pennsylvania were furious about a tax on liquor. They started a literal revolt. Washington, in his 60s, actually put on his old uniform and led 13,000 troops to shut it down. It was the first time the federal government said, "Yeah, you actually have to follow the laws."
- The Bill of Rights: This was ratified during his first term.
- The Neutrality Proclamation: Everyone wanted him to pick a side between France and Britain. He said no. He knew the U.S. was too young and broke to survive another war.
The Complicated Legacy of Slavery
We can't talk about who was our first president of the United States without talking about the fact that he enslaved people. It’s a massive contradiction. Here was a man fighting for "liberty" while holding over 300 people in bondage at his Mount Vernon estate.
As he got older, his views shifted. Sorta. He started writing letters about how he wished slavery could be abolished by "slow, sure, and imperceptible degrees." But he didn't do it while he was in power. He was too afraid of the southern states leaving the Union.
In his will, he did something none of the other slave-owning Founding Fathers did: he ordered that the enslaved people he owned be freed after his wife, Martha, died. It’s a complex, messy part of his life that historians are still grappling with. He was a man of his time who couldn't quite escape its greatest sin.
Why He Walked Away
The most important thing Washington ever did wasn't a battle. It was leaving.
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In 1796, he decided two terms were enough. People wanted him to be president for life. He could have been a king. Instead, he wrote his Farewell Address—warning against political parties and foreign entanglements—and went home to farm.
By walking away, he proved that the U.S. was a republic, not a monarchy. That "peaceful transfer of power" thing we talk about? He started that.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs
If you’re looking to get closer to the real George Washington, don't just look at the paintings.
- Visit Mount Vernon: If you're near D.C., go there. It’s not just a big house; it’s a working farm that shows the reality of 18th-century life, including the slave quarters.
- Read "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow: It’s a brick of a book, but it’s the definitive biography. It gets into his temper, his insecurities, and his obsession with his reputation.
- Check out the "George Washington's Mount Vernon" website: They have a digital encyclopedia that debunks almost every myth you've ever heard.
- Think about the "precedents": Next time you see a president do something—like give a State of the Union or appoint a judge—remember that Washington was the one who decided how to do it first.
He wasn't a god. He was a flawed, incredibly disciplined man who held a brand-new country together by sheer force of will. Knowing who was our first president of the United States means looking past the cherry tree stories and seeing the human being who had to figure it all out as he went along.