Fun Facts about George Washington

Since it's Presidents Day, a day to recognize George Washington, I thought it would be interesting to point out some of the more interesting facts about the man. I just think that the following facts make him seem even more interesting in my eyes. So for your viewing/historical pleasure, here are some things I found out about one of my country's Founding Fathers:

 From Scholastic.com:

• He really liked hound dogs and had one that he named Sweet Lips.
• He never lived in Washington, during his time the nation's capital was New York City and Philadelphia (later)  respectively.  

From Washington's World 

• He came up with the greeting of "Mr. President."
• He personally wrote over 20,000 letters-more than any other president. (If he lived today I wonder how many e-mails he'd have sent out.) 
• He fired the first shot of the French and Indian War (Well someone had to start it!)

From About.com

• Washington's second inaugural address was the shortest ever given- 135 words. (I guess he really believed in the idea that a good speech is a short speech!) 
• Washington grew marijuana on his farm. (No, he didn't inhale it. Apparently, back in his day people grew it as a soil stabilizer and for hemp.)

From classroomhelp.com 

• At one point he was the largest whiskey maker in Virginia. (Wow, he made booze and grew marijuana -what a rebel!)
• The story of George cutting down a cherry tree isn't true. (I didn't like the idea of him cutting down his dad's favorite tree anyway.)
• During the Revolutionary War he banned his soldiers from using curse words. (Even if they did kill people at least they weren't foul mouthed about it, thanks to him.)