Category Archives: Founding Fathers

George Washington Had a Bad Cold!

Posted on by March 30, 2010

On a trip last week to visit our daughter and to speak about Patrick Henry, I caught a bad cold. On the day I was to make my presentation about one of my favorite founding fathers, I began to lose my voice. I made it through my presentation okay, but my cold and cough got worse. It began to remind me about George Washington.

In December, 1799, George Washington rode out about his beautiful plantation at Valley Forge to mark some trees which needed to be chopped down or trimmed. He kept riding in the midst of snow and sleet. As George returned home, his neck was wet with melted snow and he began to be hoarse. read more

Benjamin Franklin recommends “Air Baths” to Avoid the Flu

Posted on by March 16, 2010

Benjamin Franklin had a habit of engaging in a daily “air bath.” He regarded this as a novel method to avoid cold, flu, and even smallpox. He wrote in 1768: “I have found it . . . agreeable to my constitution to bathe in another element. I mean cold air.”

Ben would arise every morning, and sit in his chamber without any clothes on whatever. He would throw open the room’s windows, even in cold weather, and enjoy the fresh air for a half hour or even an hour, depending on the season. During this time he would either read or write. read more

Benjamin Franklin: What Have You Done With Our Time?

Posted on by March 14, 2010

As I considered all the clocks that need to be set to the correct time with the advent of Daylight Savings Time, I wondered if it was time for us to reconsider this magical invention. I think the owner of that watch store in New York City that has his employees employed 10 hours a day, over 2 days, to reset his 60,000 or so watches might agree.

Benjamin Franklin originally suggested this concoction. He was surprised at how late the British would start their days, and how late into the night they would remain active. The inhabitants of London chose to live much of their life by candlelight. Then they would complain of the high duty (tax) on tallow, the main ingredient used in making candles.  read more

Thomas Jefferson: The Law Gave Him a View of the “Dark Side.”

Posted on by March 11, 2010

Peter Jefferson left this dying declaration regarding his son, Tom: “. . . Tom should receive a thorough classical education.” And Peter died when Tom was only 14, but he left him sufficient funds for such an education.  And then some.

At age 16, Tom dedided he should apply for entrance into the College of William and Mary at Williamsburg, Virginia. Just a few weeks before his 17th birthday he received the results of his entrance examinations. His outstanding results allowed Tom to be admitted into an advanced class in the school of philosophy. Tom would reside in Williamsburg for the next 7 years. read more

John Adams: Why Did You Want to Be A Lawyer?

Posted on by March 9, 2010

John Adams, the second President of the United States, was given his father’s name. John was athletic as a youth, and his father noticed he was extremely bright. John loved and excelled at ice-skating, wrestling and swimming.  But at an early age he didn’t care too much for books or learning, and saw no sense in talk of college. He wished only to become a farmer.

John’s father, though decided that his son should go to Harvard College and become a minister. John entered college at the then typical-for-the-time young age of 15. Most young men went to Harvard College to learn one of the three prominent vocations taught there. One would become a minister, a teacher, or a lawyer. read more

Patrick Henry, Why Do You Want to Be A Lawyer?

Posted on by March 8, 2010

When I was in law school, one of our first cases for review in our estate planning class was about a trust which had been written up by Patrick Henry in the 1750’s. His trust was upheld.

But did you know that Patrick Henry became a lawyer just by circumstance? As a young man, Patrick Henry fell in love with a neighbor girl, Sarah Shelton, nicknamed “Sallie.” When they were married, her parents gave them a 300 acre tobacco farm as a wedding gift.

Patrick was 18 at the time, Sarah wasn’t much over 16. Neither knew farming. Patrick grew up in a Merchantile household. Sallie’s parents owned an inn. read more

Ben Franklin asks: “Do You Pay Too Much For Your Whistle?”

Posted on by March 5, 2010

When he was about 7 years old, Benjamin Franklin had an experience that taught him something new. It was so significant to him as a child, it stayed with him all his life. It even took on added meaning the more experience he had with life and mankind.

Ben was the fifteenth child and the tenth son born to Joshah Franklin’s family. So he had some older siblings. When Ben was about 7, some visitors to their home gave Ben 10 pennies. An immense sum for a boy of his age and standing.

A few hours later,  Ben happened upon a neighbor boy who was blowing on a whistle. Charmed with the sound, Ben asked to buy it from this neighbor. Ben gave all his 10 pennies for the whistle. read more

George Washington U.S. President – two terms

Posted on by September 24, 2015

Did you know that George Washington was sworn in for his second term as the President of the United States of America on March 4, 1793?

Following the drafting of the new Constitution for the United States of America, it was sent out to the various States for ratification. In 1787 three States ratified it. In the next year, eight more States gave their approval. On April 6, 1789, the Constitution of the United States became the basic law of the land as the electoral college unanimously elected George Washington as its first President. read more

George Washington: What Happened to Your Birthday?

Posted on by March 2, 2010

George Washington was born on February 11, 1732. Yes, that’s February 11. The British colonies (which is what the United States of America was then) still used the “old style” , or Justinian, calendar. They didn’t begin using the Gregorian (or new style) until 1752, when George would have been 20 years of age, and before we declared our Independence from Great Britain.

Then George’s birthday was changed to February 22, because of corrections in the dates of the new calendar. When our new President’s Day celebration began, the celebrations of George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday were combined to create this holiday. Now many have forgotten George Washington’s birthday all together. read more