Did George Washington refer to himself as a king?
My Mom said that she learned that George Washington referred to himself as king when she was in Law School but I think that can’t be right. But I wanted to get the truth. Please site references if you can.
I have read many books on George Washington, and he was a very remarkable person. I also had the privilege of reading some of his personnel correspondence, by all that i have read I believe that I have a relatively good idea about the charter and nature of George Washington.
Being of middle class a young Washington wanted to be accepted into British society, he had acquaintances with the British appointed Governors and wanted to earn a commission as a British Officer, and eventually maybe aspirations of being the first colonial born Governor of Virgina. It was in his teenage years and the years following the French Indian wars that Washington realized that as a colonist he would never be accepted as an equal in British society. That despite everything he would always be a colonist. If you apply and extend this train of thought that due to your birth you were considered less worth than others, this brings one to question the entire monarchy and right of rule by birth. As an officer of militia Washington was constantly exposed to the British ridicule from the British Army Officers with the performance of his troops. Even when the colonial Militia were the only ones that could stand their ground against the indians.
All this helped form Washington’s opinions and views, Washington was very committed to the Revolution, wanted to bring end British rule and end monarchy.
I seriously doubt that Washington every seriously considered himself a King. Which he could have been, had he wanted to for the Americans loved Washington.
Many people have led a rebel army to victory and formed a new goverment and created a new nations, very few have birthed a nations, Washingtons greatest gift to the American people was when he decided not to run for a 3rd term.
Castro, Ho Che min, Lennin, Napoleon, Alexander, all changed their worlds, but only Washington ceded power to the citizens of the nation he helped birthed. The others never could give up the power.
George Washington
Tags: biography, george, george washington, george washington biography, george washington carver, george washington quotes, george washington university, history, presidents, washington