George Washington

The Reluctant King Who Settled for President

George Washington wasn’t just the first President of the United States—he was the nation’s original celebrity general, reluctant politician, and the man who somehow made powdered wigs look almost respectable. Born in 1732 in Virginia, Washington started his career as a land surveyor before becoming a soldier in the French and Indian War. He quickly earned a reputation for bravery, strategic thinking, and, on occasion, narrowly escaping death by musket ball. By the time the Revolutionary War came around, he was the natural choice to lead the Continental Army—though “natural” might be a stretch, given he spent much of it scrambling for supplies, troops, and any winter coat that didn’t smell like wet goat.

After eight grueling years of war, Washington famously resigned his commission rather than hold onto power—earning the world’s admiration and ensuring his legacy as the anti-dictator. But retirement on his Mount Vernon plantation was short-lived; when the fledgling nation needed a leader who wouldn’t sell them out for a crown, Washington was coaxed (read: begged) into becoming the first President. He set countless precedents: from the two-term limit to the idea that the President should be more public servant than monarch.

Washington finally retired for good in 1797, devoting his last years to farming, distilling whiskey (because of course he did), and trying to avoid political drama—which, given the early republic’s politics, was like trying to avoid humidity in Virginia. He died in 1799, universally respected, even by some of his former enemies. To this day, he’s remembered not just for shaping the presidency, but for his steadfast refusal to cling to power—cementing his role as the guy who could have been king, but decided he’d rather go home, feed the horses, and pour himself a stiff drink.

“Drink not to elevation, but to satisfaction.”

—George Washington, Rules of Civility