George Washington Dies: The Father of a Nation
George Washington died in December 1799, two days after riding out in sleet and snow to check on his farm. He came back with a throat infection. His doctors bled him — several times, standard practice — which almost certainly accelerated his death. He was sixty-seven. He'd resigned his commission as general in 1783, then stepped down from the presidency in 1797, when he could have served for life. Both times, the world held its breath. Both times he walked away. His willingness to give up power became the template every American president since has had to answer to, at least in theory.
December 14, 1799
227 years ago
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